The absconding Samajwadi Party leader, Gayatri Prajapati was arrested in Lucknow on Wednesday following assault accusations on him. The DGP of Lucknow, Javeed Ahmed confirmed the arrest. He also said that during the initial investigation, Prajapati confessed to having been on run since February 27. He also confessed to having been in West Bengal for some days before moving to the southern states.
Prajapati was sent to a 14 day judicial remand after the POCSO Act court pronounced the sentence. Apart from Prajapati, three other accomplices were arrested from Lucknow on Tuesday. The three were arrested for providing shelter to the accused, of which two of them were Prajapati’s sons.
The police have been questioning both the sons about Prajapati’s whereabouts, who revealed information about those in touch with him. It was through this the police were able to zero in on him and arrest the accused. Last week, two more accomplices were arrested from Noida in connection to this minor abuse case. The police also approached the court to seek permission to attach Prajapati’s properties. All the arrested in the case have been labeled co-accused of the case.
Prajapati, along with six accomplices has been charged with the assault of a woman and abuse of her minor daughter in 2014.
A FIR was launched on February 17, after which the UP minister along with his accomplices have been on the run. After Supreme Court’s directive, Prajapati absconded his duties and evaded arrest for 17 days. The police have since issued a non-bailable warrant and suspended his passport to prevent him from escaping from the Country.
In the recent Assembly Elections, Prajapati lost from Amethi to BJP, where he held the seat.
