Rape charges framed against Gayatri Prajapati and six others

Lucknow: A special POSCO court has framed charges against Uttar Pradesh former minister Gayatri Prasad Prajapati and six other co-accused in a gang rape case here. Yesterday the court fixed August 1, 2017, for recording of the evidence of the prosecution. All the accused are in jail and were produced for hearing under tight security.

The court charged Gayatri and co-accused Vikas, Ashish,Ashok Amrendra, Chandrapal and Rupeshwar under sections 376 (D), 354A(1) , 509, 504 and 506 of IPC. Gayatri, Vikas, Ashish and Ashok have also been charged with section 5(G) read with section 6 of the POSCO Act. Special Judge Uma Shanker Sharma had earlier rejected the discharge application of the accused, Vikas Verma holding that there was prima facie evidence against him to make him stand on trial. The victim had lodged FIR with Gautampalli police on February 18, 2017, on the direction of the Supreme Court. Later, the investigating officer filed charge-sheet on June 3, 2017, with 824 pages and citing 24 witnesses. (UNI)