3 days on, no arrest in Jubilee Hills 'minor' gang rape case

Hyderabad: A 17-year-old girl was returning from a party when she was allegedly sexually assaulted by a group of youngsters in a moving vehicle in the Jubilee Hills area in the city on Saturday. The son of an influential person was allegedly involved in the incident along with four others. All the five accused are minors.

The police had earlier registered a case under section 354 (outrage of modesty), 323(voluntarily causing hurt) of the IPC, and under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act against the accused. The girl was sent for medical examination and after she was found raped, the police altered the case and added section 376 (gang rape) of the IPC.

According to the FIR, on the afternoon of 28 May, his daughter went to a party at Amnesia & Insomnia Pub located on Road No. 36, Jubilee Hills which was hosted by her friends Suraj and Hadi. At about 5.30 p.m, a few guys in a red Mercedes took her out of the pub and misbehaved with her. They also inflicted minor injuries on her neck.

The police initially registered a case of "outraging the modesty" based on a complaint lodged by the victim's family three days ago. The investigators sent the girl for medical examination. When the woman officers at the Bharosa centre interacted with the minor, she reportedly revealed the sexual assault.

The girl said there were three or four youngsters in the car. They stopped the vehicle at an isolated area and took turns assaulting her. She was able to identify and name only one accused who is also a minor.

The pub management, meanwhile, told the police that it was a non­alcoholic party and no liquor was served.

"We have not made any arrests. The case is under investigation," said S. Rajasekhar Reddy, the SHO of the Jubilee Hills police station.

Speaking to NewsMeter, west zone DCP Joel Davis said the victim is not in a position to reveal the identities of the accused. "The initial investigation revealed that five people are involved in the gang rape. The investigating officer has received some clues and is working on it. So far, no arrests have been made," said the DCP.

When asked if any MLA or Minority board member's son is involved, the DCP said, "We cannot say anything unless they are apprehended."

Meanwhile, the BJP said out of the five perpetrators, one individual is alleged to be the son of an AIMIM MLA and another a Minority chairman's son. "The Hyderabad police have not yet arrested any accused despite a criminal complaint being lodged by the parents of the victim and the alleged criminal's car being impounded. BJP accuses the police of slow action in this case as an AIMIM MLA's son is involved. BJP wonders if the police are waiting for a clearance from AIMIM chief Asaduddin or CM KCR to make arrests in this case," Krishna Sagar, the Telangana BJP spokesperson, said.