Minor girl gang-raped in car in Hyderabad, accused belong to 'influential families'

The incident came to light when the girl's father noticed injuries on her neck and enquired about it. She told him that some boys attacked her after a party at a pub

In a horrifying incident, a 17-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped by a group of five underage boys while moving in a Mercedes Benz car in the posh Jubilee-Banjara Hills area of Hyderabad on Saturday.

The BJP has accused the Telangana police of attempting to hush up the case, as "the suspects include the son of an AIMIM MLA, a Waqf official and a TRS leader."

The girl had gone to a pub in the upscale Road no 36 of Jubilee Hills on Saturday afternoon along with her friends for an “alcohol-free” party. The boys under question befriended the girl at the pub. They then left the pub and spent some time at a bakery in Banjara Hills.

The group later reportedly moved to a secluded spot in two vehicles – Benz and an Innova. After assaulting her sexually, the gang of boys left her at the same pub.

The girl was later picked up by her father from the pub. The parents subsequently questioned the girl about the bruises around the neck and were told that she was molested by five boys in a car. A complaint was lodged by the father and an FIR was registered at the Jubilee Hills police on Tuesday.

The case was initially filed under the IPC section 354 (force against woman outraging her modesty) and relevant provisions of Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act. The girl is said to be traumatized by the incident.

“We have modified the sections after a statement from the girl. We are verifying the facts from CCTV footage and other evidence etc. We are expecting clarity soon. No one has been arrested till now,” a police official of Jubilee Hills area told DH.

The opposition is accusing the Telangana police and the TRS government of trying to hush up the case to protect the influential persons connected to the case.

“The police have already seized the car, accessed the CCTV footage but did not arrest even one.

If they are minors or not will be decided by the courts, why these delay tactics? Are the police awaiting clearance from Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao or AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, since the accused, as per media reports, include the son of AIMIM MLA, Waqf Board chairman and a senior TRS leader,” questioned Krishna Sagar Rao, Telangana BJP chief spokesperson.

Calling it an utter failure of the law and order situation in the state and the city, the T-BJP said it would fight in support of the girl till she gets justice.