SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav meets Gomti Nagar molestation case accused Pawan Yadav

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India] August 16 (ANI): Samajwadi Party (SP) chief and MP Akhilesh Yadav on Friday met Pawan Yadav who was arrested in the Gomti Nagar molestation case.

Pawan Yadav said, “I am thankful to Samajwadi Party and Akhilesh Yadav. I was not there when the incident happened. I was not involved in the video. CM Yogi Adityanath must have been given the wrong information, after which he took my name.”

“Maybe he took my name because my name is ‘Pawan Yadav’. Akhilesh ji has said that I don’t have to be afraid if I have not done anything wrong. I felt much better,” he added.

However, in a statement released by Lucknow Police, it was clarified that legal action has been taken against Pawan Yadav on the basis of the available evidence.

“It is noteworthy that, according to the information received so far, three cases have already been registered against the accused at the local level in which a charge sheet has been sent,” the statement reads.

The statement further said, “The current case is being investigated by the police. The investigation will be disposed of on the basis of evidence. In this case, at present, the accused has neither been given a clean chit by the police nor has he been acquitted by the Hon’ble Court.”.

Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that ensuring women’s safety is one of the main priorities of his government and assured that culprits behind the Gomtinagar harassment incident will be punished severely.

The chief minister’s statement in the Assembly came a day after a video showed revellers harassing a couple on a bike in Gomtinagar, Lucknow.

“Women’s safety is a big priority for us. That is why we have taken the Gomtinagar incident seriously. We have suspended the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Additional DCP, and Assistant Commissioner of Police for Gomtinagar. Whoever tries to create anarchy will suffer himself,” CM Yogi Adityanath said.

The SHO of Gomtinagar, Deepak Pandey, Police Outpost Incharge Rishi Vivek, Sub-Inspector Kapil Kumar, and Constables Dharamvir and Kapil Kumar were also suspended in connection with the incident.

The couple were harassed near a flooded underpass close to the Hotel Taj in Gomtinagar. The couple fell off their motorcycle after water was splashed on them by the crowd. The video of the incident was circulated widely on social media platforms. Congress MLA Aradhana Mishra raised the issue in the Assembly.

Earlier, four people were arrested in connection with the incident. They were identified as Pawan Yadav, Sunil Kumar, Mohammad Arbaaz and Viraj Sahu.

The arrested individuals have been booked under sections 191(2) (rioting) and 74 (assault or use of criminal force with intent to outrage modesty) and other relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.