The DNA sample from 71-year-old Moeed Khan, a functionary of the Samajwadi Party, did not match the DNA of the fetus belonging to the 12-year-old Ayodhya gang-rape survivor, it did match with a domestic help employed by him – Raju Khan.
This was disclosed after the Uttar Pradesh government submitted the DNA report to the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court on Monday. After acknowledging the report, Justice Pankaj Bhatia’s bench scheduled the next hearing for October 3, when Moeed’s bail petition is expected to be considered.
According to the family’s police complaint, the girl from the scheduled caste Nishad community had been hired as a daily wage laborer and repeatedly raped by Moeed and Raju for two-and-a-half months since mid-May in Bhadarsa, a township about 21km southwest of Ayodhya. The crime was detected after she became pregnant.
Police filed a case under the Pocso Act, leading to the arrest of both suspects on July 30. Following an investigation, a chargesheet was submitted on September 10. The survivor, who was 10 weeks pregnant, underwent an abortion at Queen Mary’s Hospital in Lucknow on August 7, with the consent of her parents and medical professionals.
In his bail application, Moeed argued that he is an elderly man who was framed for political reasons, claiming he had not been provided with any documentation related to the case.
The incident sparked a political uproar, with the BJP accusing the Samajwadi Party of protecting criminals. It has become a significant issue ahead of the upcoming by-elections in 10 assembly seats across the state. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath vowed to take strong action and accused the SP of shielding a rape suspect. On August 3, authorities demolished a bakery owned by Moeed in Bhadarsa, citing illegal construction.
