UP’s BSP MP Atul Rai acquitted in rape case, victim committed suicide by setting herself on fire outside SC
Uttar Pradesh BSP MP Atul Rai, who has been in jail since 2019, was acquitted of rape charges by a Varanasi court on Saturday. However, he will not be released from jail due to other pending cases against him. Court acquitted BSP MP Atul Rai for lack of evidence. Additional (Additional) District Judge Siyaram Chaurasia of Varanasi MP-MLA Court was hearing the matter. Atul Rai, lodged in Naini Jail, appeared in the court through video conferencing.
Atul Rai is a member of the Bahujan Samaj Party from the Ghosi Lok Sabha seat in the eastern part of the state. Rai was accused of rape by a 24-year-old girl from Ballia. MP Atul Rai absconded after the case was registered, he surrendered after winning the Lok Sabha elections. In this case, he is lodged in Naini Jail of Prayagraj for the last 36 months.
The woman later set herself ablaze at the Supreme Court gate along with her male friend (who was also an eyewitness to the case). After which both were admitted to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in Delhi in critical condition. Where both died after 9 days. The victim had alleged that the Varanasi police, where she lodged the case, was in connivance with the jailed MP and his relatives. The woman and her friend did a Facebook Live video before setting themselves on fire. In the video, he accused the Uttar Pradesh Police of colluding with the MP and his relatives. Both had said that they did not expect justice. Rai is also an accused in the abetment to suicide case filed by the UP Police in this case and his bail was rejected by the Allahabad High Court in July.
After the incident of self-immolation, the investigation of the entire episode was handed over to the DG and ADG by the UP government. At the same time, in this high profile case, the then Bhelupur CO Amresh Singh Baghel, the investigating officer in Varanasi, was suspended. According to the information, CO Amresh Singh Baghel was the investigating officer of the case and after investigation he had given a clean chit to the BSP MP. At the same time, after the death of the rape victim, the High Court had directed the UP government to investigate the matter and take action.
In May 2019, the woman filed a case against Ghosi MP Atul Rai, alleging that he had raped her at his residence in Varanasi. He surrendered a month later and has been in jail since then. In November 2020, Rai’s brother also filed a case of forgery against the woman in Varanasi.
In the year 2020, the Supreme Court allowed Atul Rai to take oath as an MP while on parole. The Allahabad High Court had given him parole for two days for oath.
