A shocking incident of alleged gang rape has come to light from Gujarat’s Surat. The high profile case has led to the arrest of a local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) functionary and his associate. According to reports, Aditya Upadhyay, the general secretary of BJP’s Ward 8 unit, and Gaurav Singh stand accused in the case.
Both Upadhyay and Singh allegedly drugged and sexually assaulted a 23-year-old woman in Surat. As the case came to limelight, the BJP swiftly suspended Upadhyay from all party posts.
What happened?
Reports suggest that the 23-year-old victim encountered Aditya Upadhyay, an acquaintance, in Surat. Upadhyay allegedly coaxed her into his car under the guise of a casual conversation. While the trio was in the car, he reportedly offered the women a cold drink laced with a sedative. The drug caused her to become semi-conscious and drowsy.
Taking advantage of the situation, Upadhyay then drove the incapacitated woman to a hotel. The hotel is located in the Jahangirpura police jurisdiction. According to reports, Upadhyay’s associate, Gaurav Singh, was waiting outside the hotel.
The police stated that the duo is accused of taking turns to rape the victim while she was in a drugged and vulnerable state. After the gruesome assault, the accused dropped the survivor near her house. The girl was left alone in a vulnerable state and fled the scene.
FIR Registered, BJP suspends Upadhyay
The survivor immediately lodged a formal complaint as she regained her consciousness. The Jahangirpura police station registered a case against both Upadhyay and Singh. Both were promptly arrested by the police. The initial complaint of the victim led to the case being registered under sections dealing with gang rape.
Further investigation into the matter revealed the political connection of Aditya Upadhyay with BJP. Upadhyay held a prominent position in the ruling BJP’s local unit. The political connection of the accused sparked widespread outrage in the region.
However, in a move to contain the fallout, BJP Surat City chief Paresh Patel immediately issued a statement. The party suspended Upadhyay from the primary membership and all posts within the Bharatiya Janata party.
Investigation Underway, Remand Granted
Rakesh Barot, the DCP of Surat Zone-5, confirmed the arrests and stated that a thorough investigation is underway. Police are examining hotel CCTV footage, car records, call data, and the survivor’s statement to strengthen the case.
He said, “A complaint was registered yesterday at Jahangir Pura police station in which a rape case was filed against two accused. Based on the complaint, we have now registered it as a gang rape case. The complainant stated that she was taken to a beach and offered a cold drink, after which she became intoxicated. The two accused then took her to a hotel and raped her.”
In addition to this, Aditya Upadhyay and Gaurav Singh were produced before a Surat court on Tuesday, May 20. The court further granted the police a four-day remand for the accused. However, the Jahangirpura Police seeked a 10-day custody. According to reports, the police intend to use this custody period to retrace the duo’s route, verify whom they met, collect evidence, including any purchases made at the beach, and conduct medical tests.
Upadhyay’s hotel demolished
The case got more complicated after the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) demolished Baba Hotel. The Baba hotel is allegedly an illegal non-veg eatery on Ved Road. The hotel has alleged links to Aditya Upadhyay. According to SMC, the hotel was reportedly encroaching on a footpath and operating without necessary approvals.
The incident has ignited public outrage in Surat. Serious concerns are being raised over women’s safety and the potential misuse of political power in the state. More revelations are anticipated related to the ongoing case as the investigation intensifies.
