'Rape-accused' SP minister Gayatri Prajapati arrested

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], Mar. 15 (ANI): In a major breakthrough, absconding rape-accused minister Gayatri Prajapati was arrested on Wednesday morning by the Uttar Pradesh Police in connection with a case against the Samajwadi Party leader. This development comes a day after three persons were detained in connection with the case. Two of Prajapati's sons have also been detained for giving shelter to the accused. The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) had last week arrested two more persons from Noida in connection with this case. Earlier, the Supreme Court had refused to stay the arrest of absconding Prajapati and asked him to approach the concerned court. Prajapati, who has been on the run since February 27 after an FIR was lodged against him, had approached the top court for a stay on his arrest. An apex court bench headed by Justice Arjan Kumar Sikri made it clear that it wouldn't modify its order. Prajapati is accused of raping a woman and molesting her minor daughter back in 2014. The Uttar Pradesh Police had issued non-bailable warrants against Prajapati and six others in connection with the rape charges. Prajapati's passport was earlier revoked for four weeks to prevent him from attempting to flee out of the country. Earlier last week, the police also initiated proceedings for a look out notice against Prajapati following reports that he might try to escape abroad to evade arrest. (ANI)