'Recorded videos of assault': Lured with promise of education certificates, woman 'raped' inside car on Agra-Lucknow expressway

AGRA: A woman was allegedly raped inside a car on the Agra-Lucknow expressway after two men lured her to Lucknow with the promise of "genuine" educational certificates, filmed the assault and abandoned her on the expressway before fleeing, police said on Monday.

Officers have launched a search for the accused after the woman lodged a complaint on Saturday, four months after the assault occurred on May 10, as Agra police allegedly refused to register her complaint, saying that the crime fell under the jurisdiction of the Lucknow police.

The 20-year-old woman, who hails from Agra, informed the police that she had responded to a social media post offering educational certificates without requiring exams. She said, "I contacted Rakesh Kumar, who claimed I could obtain the certificates for Rs 30,000 without taking any exams. After transferring Rs 15,000 to his bank account, I received a certificate via social media. Rakesh then instructed me to travel to Lucknow on May 10 to collect the remaining documents. Upon my arrival, I met Rakesh and his associate, Srinivas Verma, near the Agra-Lucknow expressway."

In the FIR, the woman recounted how the men drove her to a secluded area, where Srinivas allegedly raped her while Rakesh waited outside the car. "They also recorded videos and took photos of the assault. When I threatened to report the assault to the police, they warned me that they would make the footage viral if I did. They then abandoned me on the expressway and fled."

The woman claimed that she initially attempted to file a complaint at the New Agra police station shortly after the incident, but officers refused, citing that the crime had taken place in Lucknow police's jurisdiction. "I kept returning to the police station in Agra, but they wouldn't register my FIR," she said. "Finally, I went to Lucknow, where I managed to lodge the FIR after facing many difficulties. I only want justice."

Agra DCP Omvir Singh said, "Based on the complaint, we have registered an FIR against two individuals under IPC sections 420 (cheating), 406 (criminal breach of trust), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 376 (rape), and 506 (criminal intimidation). The case is being thoroughly investigated, and efforts are underway to arrest the accused."


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