A Samajwadi Party leader, Nawab Singh Yadav, was arrested on Monday on charges of attempting to rape a 15-year-old girl, sparking significant political controversy. The incident has led to a wave of political reactions, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accusing the Samajwadi Party (SP) of protecting its leaders involved in criminal activities.
The situation unfolded early on Monday when the Uttar Pradesh police received a distress call at around 1:30 am on their emergency helpline number, UP 112. The caller, a young girl, reported that she had been stripped and that an attempt had been made to assault her. Kannauj Superintendent of Police (SP) Amit Kumar Anand confirmed that the police promptly responded to the call, rescuing the teen and arresting Nawab Singh Yadav, who was found in an "objectionable" condition at the scene.
According to the victim's account, her paternal aunt had taken her to Yadav's residence under the pretense of securing a job opportunity for her. The police have registered a case under the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and further investigation is ongoing.
Nawab Singh Yadav has vehemently denied the allegations, claiming that he is the victim of a "capitalist conspiracy." Despite his denial, the court has placed him in 14-day judicial custody, and the investigation will include a medical examination of the victim.
As the news of the arrest spread, the Samajwadi Party quickly distanced itself from Nawab Singh Yadav. Kannauj District President Kaleem Khan issued a statement asserting that Yadav is not affiliated with the party. "It is important to clarify that Nawab Singh Yadav, son of Chandan Singh Yadav, a resident of Addangapur, is not a member of the Samajwadi Party. Despite attempts to link him with the party, he has been engaged in anti-party activities for years and is not connected with us in any capacity," read the official statement from the SP.
On the other hand, the BJP wasted no time in criticizing the Samajwadi Party for allegedly shielding its leaders from accountability. BJP spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi accused the SP of consistently covering up crimes committed by its members, citing previous incidents as evidence of a pattern. "Nawab Singh Yadav is not just any SP leader; he has been a representative of MP Dimple Yadav. Under SP's policy that 'boys will be boys,' such crimes are consistently covered up. First, it was Ayodhya's Moid Khan, and now it's Kannauj's Nawab Singh Yadav. This is the true character of SP," Tripathi stated.
Further complicating Yadav's situation, it has been revealed that he has a long history of legal troubles. He has a total of 16 cases registered against him at Kannauj's City Police Station and Tirwa Police Station, including charges of attempted murder and three other cases under the Goonda Act.
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