No gangrape, allegation part of conspiracy, Police claim in Champawat case

my uttarakhand news Bureau

Champawat, 7 May: The sensational case involving allegations of gangrape of a 16-year-old minor girl in Uttarakhand’s Champawat district took a dramatic turn this evening after Champawat Superintendent of Police Rekha Yadav publicly ruled out the allegation of gangrape and claimed that the entire episode appears to be part of a well-planned conspiracy motivated by personal revenge.
Addressing a press conference here this evening, SP Rekha Yadav said that extensive scientific, technical and forensic investigation conducted by the police has not confirmed the allegation of rape. The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) associated with the investigation has also reportedly not confirmed sexual assault on the minor girl on the basis of medical findings. The SP claimed that fake allegations of gang rape of the girl in question were allegedly orchestrated by Kamal Rawat, who has been identified as the alleged mastermind behind the conspiracy.
It may be recalled that the case had earlier triggered widespread outrage across Uttarakhand after the father of the minor girl lodged a complaint at Kotwali Champawat on 6 May, alleging that his 16-year-old daughter had been raped by three persons. Acting swiftly on the complaint, the police had registered a case under the POCSO Act and constituted a 10-member Special Investigation Team under the supervision of the Circle Officer, Champawat, considering the sensitivity and seriousness of the allegations.
SP Rekha Yadav stated that the investigation was conducted in a scientific and impartial manner. She personally visited the alleged crime scene, interacted with the victim and local residents and monitored the inquiry closely. The Regional Forensic Science Laboratory (RFSL) team from Udham Singh Nagar was also called to examine the spot scientifically and collect evidence. The victim underwent medical examination, as well as counselling before the Child Welfare Committee and recording of her statement before the court.
The Police have also claimed that several crucial facts had emerged during the course of the investigation through analysis of CCTV footage, Call Detail Records (CDR), witness statements and medical evidence. Investigators found that on the day of the alleged incident, the minor girl had voluntarily gone with a male friend to attend a marriage ceremony in a village. Yadav also added that the movements of the girl and her presence at different locations were reportedly verified through CCTV footage and digital evidence.
The police further stated that the medical examination did not reveal any clear signs of external or internal injuries, physical struggle or forcible sexual assault. Investigators also found inconsistencies between the allegations made in the complaint and the evidence collected during the inquiry.
Yadav further said that after discrepancies surfaced between the complaint and the technical evidence, the police conducted a detailed analysis of the entire sequence of events. During subsequent questioning, the minor girl allegedly admitted that no rape had taken place and that the entire episode had been planned as part of a conspiracy involving Kamal Rawat, a female friend of the victim and some other individuals.
The Police also shared that the alleged conspirator, Kamal Rawat had earlier been accused in another case and the persons allegedly implicated in the present case had reportedly testified against him during the legal proceedings against him. Motivated by revenge, he allegedly devised a plan to falsely implicate the three named individuals and used the minor girl as part of the conspiracy.
The police claimed that Kamal Rawat deliberately chose the day of the marriage ceremony attended by the victim and her male friend to execute the alleged conspiracy. As per the police version, the original plan was to go to the house of the victim’s male friend and create circumstances to implicate him and others. However, when the male friend left the location earlier than expected, another acquaintance’s house was allegedly selected to stage the sequence of events and present it as a genuine crime.
Investigators further claimed that technical evidence and witness statements did not establish the presence of the three named accused at the alleged crime scene. According to the police, digital evidence and statements collected during the investigation confirmed that the three individuals named in the complaint were not present at the spot during the alleged incident.
The police said that detailed examination of digital and forensic evidence is still underway and questioning of concerned persons is continuing.