Allahabad High Court steps in; asks Uttar Pradesh government why rape-accused BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar hasn't been arrested

The call to arrest Unnao rape-accused BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar reached a crescendo on Thursday as the Allahabad High Court stepped in and questioned the Uttar Pradesh government as to why the MLA hasn't yet been arrested.

The High Court had taken suo moto cognisance on April 10 and sought a reply from the state government counsel.

Meanwhile, political pressure was heaped on the BJP to act against its MLA, with former UPA minister and senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal pouring scorn on the case potentially moving to the CBI. 

"By the time the case will come to CBI and they will do something about it, the accused BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar will escape", Sibal said, asking, "Why has the BJP MLA not been arrested? The PM must reply."

Despite the pressure on the party that is in power at the centre and in the state, union HRD MoS Satyapal Singh chose to give the benefit of doubt to the rape-accused BJP MLA, saying, "sometimes allegations are false also", and defended Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath by citing his formation of the SIT.

Earlier on Thursday, an FIR was finally lodged against the rape-accused BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar under sections of the IPC and POCSO at the Makhi Police station.

The SIT that had probed the case on Wednesday and subsequently submitted a report to the UP government had recommended a CBI probe on the matter and had asked for a rape case to be filed.

SHOCKING: UP DGP Calls Unnao Rape Accused BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar 'Mananiya MLA'

Late on Wednesday night, high drama was witnessed in Lucknow as the BJP MLA pleaded innocent and refused to surrender unless a warrant was issued. While the expectation was that he would surrender, he instead said that he had made the late-night appearance to 'meet and greet' the police, and claimed that he had his party's full support.

The evidence had continued to pile up against the Sengars, as in a video testimony accessed by the rape victim's father before his death following being assaulted, he named the MLA's brother Atul Singh Sengar as the person who assaulted him. Atul Sengar had been arrested on Tuesday morning, a day after the victim's father had succumbed to his injuries.

On Sunday, the rape victim had attempted self-immolation in front of the Uttar Pradesh chief minister's residence in a desperate attempt to get justice in the case.