In a major development in the alleged gang rape case involving a 19-year-old woman in Varanasi, the police have formed a six-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP)-rank officer to conduct an in-depth probe into the case.
The case, which has shocked the city, involves the allegation that 23 individuals raped the victim over a span of seven days, at different locations. 14 of the accused have been arrested so far, and efforts are ongoing to trace and apprehend the remaining individuals.
Varanasi Police Commissioner Mohit Agrawal stated,
“An FIR was registered on April 6 based on the victim’s complaint. She alleged repeated sexual assault by several acquaintances between March 29 and April 4. Today, families of some of the accused submitted videos and claimed extortion. These claims will also be examined.”
The police are now investigating conflicting claims—while the victim alleges prolonged assault and forced intoxication, some of the accused have submitted video footage and alleged extortion.
Meanwhile, the victim’s father narrated the sequence of events, stating his daughter had left home on March 29 to meet a friend, after which she went missing. The family attempted to trace her but eventually lodged a missing report with the police on April 3. She was found the next day.
“She was in a terrible state. After receiving medical care, she gradually opened up and told us everything that had happened,” he said, adding that she was planning to pursue a career in sports and had no known connection with the accused.
He has appealed to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for justice:
“I am not asking for the accused to be hanged. But the punishment should be such that no one dares to commit such a crime again.”
The police are also probing whether the assaults were pre-planned, as the pattern of intoxication and the number of alleged perpetrators raise concerns about systematic exploitation.
The case has sparked public outcry, with demands for transparency, justice, and a swift, unbiased investigation.