Jubilee Hills gang-rape: Fourth accused apprehended, fifth on the run

Hyderabad: The fourth accused in the Jubilee Hills gang-rape case, who is a child in conflict with the law (CCL), was apprehended by the police on Sunday morning. So far, four accused, including three minors, have been apprehended. Another accused, Omair Khan, is still on the run.

West zone DCP Joel Davis said of the five accused, three are minors. One of those who was arrested on Friday is 18-year-old Saduddin Malik. Along with Malik, two juveniles were arrested on Saturday. Officials confirmed that one of the juveniles is a politician's son.

"The minors are in the age group of 16-17. Irrespective of their affiliation, we will catch all the culprits within 48 hours," Mr. Davis said on Friday night.

The 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. It was reported that the son of an influential person was allegedly involved in the incident along with four others.

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 it was found that she had been 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, the girl went to a party at Amnesia & Insomnia Pub located on Road No. 36, Jubilee Hills. The party was hosted by her friends. At about 5.30 p.m, a few guys 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 modesty" based on a complaint lodged by the victim's family. 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.

With the help of call records and CCTV footage, the police were able to identify all the five culprits.

Meanwhile, Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundarrajan on Sunday ordered chief secretary Somesh Kumar and DGP M. Mahender Reddy to submit a report on the gang-rape case within two days.

The Governor said she was deeply anguished over the heinous incident and has therefore sought a report on the same.