‘All eight victims from minority’

Mumbai: The alleged sensational sex scandal in Amravati took a political turn with the Maharashtra State Minorities Commission (MSMC) rubbishing what it termed as ‘grossly exaggerated’ claims about the number of suspected victims and their videos circulating on the sordid incident.

MSMC Chairman Pyare Khan said a fact-finding team sent to Amravati has completed its probe and found “there are only eight victims”, including a couple of minors, all belonging to the minority community.

“There are merely six to eight videos linked to these victims and around a dozen other photographs that are found. The claims of 180 girls or their video are absolutely baseless. The former MP Navneet Kaur Rana and others are spreading blatant falsehoods, to foment communal disturbances,” an irked Khan told ‘The Perfect Voice’.

Police Version

Amravati (Rural) Superintendent of Police Vishal Anand categorically stated on Thursday that the investigations so far have identified a limited number of victims and digital evidence. He emphasized that forensic analysis of the devices seized from the two accused have not indicated any large-scale circulation as being claimed in certain quarters.

Anand further urged citizens and political leaders to refrain from sharing unverified content, warning that these actions could hamper the investigation and disturb public peace. A SIT is working on digital forensics, support for the victims, and tracking other potential suspects, while assuring that stringent legal action will be taken against those found guilty as well as against individuals spreading rumours.

Probe Report

To a query, Khan stated that MSMC’s preliminary report will be submitted directly to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for further action, maintaining that its findings corroborate the conclusions of the Amravati Rural Police.

“Our priority is to ensure justice for the victims and maintain communal harmony,” he asserted.

Slamming irresponsible political statements, Khan said on one hand, PM Modi and Fadnavis are working for women’s upliftment but on the other their efforts are being negated by certain elements who malign women and disturb harmony.

Initial reports pointed to a much larger network with over 180 victims and 350-plus sleaze videos of the girls that led to protests and communal tensions, which turned out to be exaggerated.

The delicate situation had escalated briefly, with reports of unrest but the local police stepped in and prevented any flare-up, as the ongoing investigations indicated that though the case of sexual exploitation was indeed serious.

NCW Directions

Taking suo motu cognisance of the case, the National Commission for Women on Friday directed the state’s DGP to conduct a time-bound probe into the matter. An Action Taken Report has been sought from the state police within five days.

The arrested accused

The Amravati Police have so far arrested at least eight alleged perpetrators including a collegian Ayan A. Tanveer Ahmed, 19, reportedly the kingpin who is a former social media handler of All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM). His associates include: Uzer Khan, 20, Tabrez Khan, 20, Mohammed Shad, 22, Manav Deepak Sugandhe, 20, Aifaz Mansur Khan, 26, Iram Mohammed Sajid, 21, Shaikh Naved Hassan, 21. POCSO charges have been added by the police.

A place ostensibly used to lure the victims has been sealed and other punitive action taken against some of the accused, including bulldozing a portion of a building used for the illegal activities.

"There is no need for leaders like Navneet Rana in the BJP, which follows the motto of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’. Hence, she should be expelled from the party. I will write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah with this demand."

Pyare Khan, Chief, Maharashtra State Minorities Commission