Lucknow: A teenage girl’s attempt to falsely accuse her neighbors of abduction and gangrape was exposed through extensive CCTV footage analysis, leading to the arrest of her, her aunt, and her cousin in a conspiracy to extort money. The case, which began on August 20, unfolded over two days of investigation, ultimately revealing a meticulously planned but fraudulent accusation.
The 17-year-old girl, reportedly ran away from her home after an argument with her family, hoping to marry her boyfriend. When he failed to show up, she wandered around the city, eventually arriving at her aunt Phoolwati’s house after four hours of searching and waiting. This marked the beginning of a 12-hour plot to implicate two of the girl’s neighbors, Sonu Bhargava and Manish Pandey, in a fabricated assault case.
According to police reports, the girl’s cousin, Manish Parihar, lodged an FIR at Premnagar police station, stating that his cousin had been forcibly taken in a car by Sonu and Manish and assaulted. A swift investigation led to the arrest of Sonu, followed by Manish, who both denied the allegations. Manish claimed he had been playing cricket at the time of the incident, an alibi that raised suspicion due to its strong corroboration by witnesses.
SSP Rajesh S. and his team deployed 80 policemen to investigate the matter, combing through footage from 50 CCTV cameras throughout the city. The inconsistencies in the girl’s statement began to surface when no car was seen in the area at the time of the alleged abduction. Instead, CCTV footage showed the girl boarding an auto from a petrol pump near her home at 7 a.m. and later roaming in various parts of the city.
Evidence gathered from the cameras contradicted the girl’s initial claims. She was seen walking around the city, making calls to her boyfriend from various locations, including a shop where she bought vermilion, toe rings, and anklets. She even filled her parting with vermilion herself in anticipation of her boyfriend’s arrival. However, when her boyfriend failed to meet her, she proceeded to her aunt’s house.
Faced with mounting pressure from her family to explain her absence, the girl, along with her aunt Phoolwati and cousin Manish, conspired to exploit the situation. They saw it as an opportunity to extort money from their neighbors by framing them in a false gangrape case. Despite maintaining her story during multiple police interrogations, the girl finally broke down when confronted with the CCTV evidence, admitting the entire plot.
“The contradictions in the victim’s statements, combined with the absence of any evidence to support her claims, led us to dig deeper,” said SSP Rajesh S. “The CCTV footage was the turning point that unraveled the entire conspiracy.”
The police have now detained the girl, her aunt, and her cousin for further legal proceedings under the POCSO Act. Their attempt to manipulate the legal system has been thwarted by thorough investigative work, ensuring the protection of innocent individuals who could have otherwise faced serious consequences.
Key Evidence That Exposed the Truth:
- No white car, as alleged by the girl, was seen on CCTV cameras from 5:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the area of the supposed abduction.
- CCTV footage showed the girl taking an auto from a petrol pump at 7 a.m. and roaming the city throughout the day.
- The girl made calls to her boyfriend and bought marriage-related items, confirming that she was not abducted but moving freely.
- The girl’s final stop at her aunt’s house, verified through multiple camera angles, contradicted her claims of forced abduction and assault.
The police are continuing their investigation and further legal action is expected against the three conspirators. Meanwhile, the falsely accused men, Sonu Bhargava and Manish Pandey, have been exonerated.
Mahi Saha
Mahi Saha, from Ranchi, reports for Neo Politico.
