Lucknow Police Register Case Against Four for Alleged Years-Long Sexual Assault and Conversion Pressure
In a disturbing case from Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow police have registered a formal case against a man and his three associates for allegedly raping a woman over several years while simultaneously threatening to circulate her private photos and videos. The accused are also charged with mounting persistent pressure on the survivor to undergo religious conversion against her will.
Survivor's Harrowing Account Leads to Arrest
The legal action was initiated after the survivor filed a detailed complaint with the authorities, leading to the prompt arrest of the main accused. The woman recounted to investigators that her life took a tragic turn following the death of her father in 2013, when she was just 16 years old. This profound loss severely disturbed her mental peace and emotional stability.
She alleges that Aamir Zaidi, son of Haider Ali and a resident of the Birpur area in Kanpur district, exploited her vulnerable condition. According to her statement, Zaidi recorded a compromising video of her and used it as leverage, threatening to make it public if she did not comply with his demands.
Escalation During Engagement and Wedding Plans
The situation intensified in the latter part of last year. The survivor's family had fixed her engagement to a man from their own caste on September 18. The engagement ceremony was solemnized on October 29, and February 14 of this year was set as the wedding date.
It was during this period that the alleged coercion took a more sinister turn. The woman claims that Aamir Zaidi, along with his associates identified as Sunny Abbas, Rizvi, and Raja alias Akhtar Ansari, began actively pressuring her to convert to their religion. The threat to circulate the private photos and videos was explicitly reiterated to force her submission to their religious demands.
Threats Extend to Fiancé and Family
In a further escalation of intimidation, the accused allegedly contacted the woman's fiancé directly. Life threats were issued not only to the fiancé but also to his family members, creating an atmosphere of fear and attempting to derail the impending marriage.
Legal Charges and Police Action
Ghatampur police inspector Dinesh Singh Bisht confirmed that a comprehensive report has been registered under multiple stringent sections of the law. The charges include:
- Sections related to rape
- Provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, relevant given the survivor was a minor when the alleged acts began
- Sections of the Information Technology (IT) Act concerning the threat to circulate digital media
- Provisions of the Religious Conversion Prohibition Act
- Sections pertaining to criminal intimidation and issuing threats
Inspector Bisht stated that the arrested accused would be presented before the court, following which judicial custody would be sought. The police investigation is ongoing to apprehend the remaining associates named in the complaint.
This case highlights a severe pattern of alleged sexual violence, digital blackmail, and coercive religious pressure, bringing together several critical legal frameworks aimed at protecting individual dignity, privacy, and religious freedom.
