The Madhya Pradesh police, who arrested the accused in the Ujjain rape case, revealed that cracking the case required an extraordinary effort. Hundreds of people were interrogated, and footage from over 700 CCTV cameras was scanned before they found evidence linking the main accused, Bharat Soni, an auto driver who allegedly raped a 15-year-old survivor. The police inspector said, “30-35 people were engaged in cyber investigation, no one slept for three to four days. When we were visiting the spot of the crime, he (accused) tried to run away. Policemen chased and caught him again.”
In addition to arresting Bharat Soni, the Madhya Pradesh Police have also registered a case against another auto driver, Rakesh Malviya, because the survivor boarded his auto at some point after the crime was committed but Malviya did not inform the police. This is considered an offense under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.
The father of the rape accused, Raju Soni, has called for the death penalty for his son if found guilty, stating, “This is very wrong, he should be punished, what other punishment would there be other than death, I would have killed him.”
When questioned about why the police are not taking action against those who did not offer help to the survivor as she walked on the streets of Ujjain for hours, pleading for assistance, the police assured that legal action will be taken against such individuals. “An auto driver knowingly did not inform the police, action has been taken against him. The footage will be studied, and if such people are found, and it is clear that if they did not help and did not inform the police, then we will take legal action against them,” stated Jayant Singh Rathore, Additional Superintendent of Police, Ujjain.
Fortunately, two policemen donated blood to the girl, aiding in her survival. The police officer who solved the case expressed interest in adopting the girl.
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