Champawat gang rape case fabricated to settle rivalry: Police

DEHRADUN: In a significant twist in the alleged Champawat gang rape case involving a 16-year-old girl, police on Thursday claimed that “no sexual assault had taken place” and that the incident was part of a conspiracy allegedly hatched by a man and his female friend to take revenge on a rival group.The information was shared by Champawat SP Rekha Yadav in the presence of the district’s chief medical officer, Dr Devesh Chauhan, who said the girl’s medical examination found “no signs of sexual assault”.SP Yadav said the allegations made by the minor “did not match the findings of the technical and manual examination of evidence”.“The probe findings, including CCTV footage, could not substantiate the girl’s allegations against the three men she accused of gang rape. The forensic team also did not find evidence supporting her claims. Later, when police questioned her about the contradictions, she allegedly admitted that the crime never took place and that she had been used by one Kamal Rawat, his female friend and others to implicate the three men,” Yadav said, adding that the girl repeated the same statement before a local court.Corroborating the police account, Dr Chauhan said the medical examination found “no external injury marks or signs of struggle” on the girl’s body. “The doctors also did not find any internal injuries indicative of sexual assault. There were no marks suggesting that ropes had been tied around her hands and legs when she was found. The medical team concluded that no gang rape had taken place,” he added.When asked about the alleged motive behind the conspiracy, SP Yadav said Rawat held a grudge against the three men after he was booked in a criminal case last year. “To take revenge, he allegedly conspired to falsely implicate them in a gang rape case by involving the minor girl. He had promised financial assistance and support for her father’s treatment,” the SP said.She added that police would initiate legal action against those allegedly involved in the conspiracy. “As far as action against the minor girl is concerned, she is being treated as a victim in the case and will be counselled accordingly. No arrests have been made so far,” the SP said.(With inputs from Prem Punetha in Pithoragarh)