UP man, out on bail for 15-year-old's rape, abducts the girl again

A man, released on bail in a case related to the kidnapping and rape of a minor girl last year, has allegedly kidnapped the same girl again in Uttar Pradesh’s Bhadohi,

The police have launched a fresh investigation into the case after the kidnapping, PTI reported.

According to the report, police have launched a manhunt to nab the accused as well as to rescue the 15-year-old girl. It is believed that the man carried out the latest crime with the help of his parents and a relative.

According to a complaint filed by the girl's mother at Bhadohi Kotwali Police Station on Wednesday, the accused, identified as 23-year-old Ashish Saroj, kidnapped the girl on March 22 with the help of his parents and a male relative. He got bail in connection with the rape of the same girl just last month.

"Based on the complaint from the family members, we have registered an FIR of kidnapping against Saroj, his parents, and a male relative. We have formed teams to recover the victim, and efforts are underway to arrest Saroj," superintendent of police (SP) Abhimanyu Manglik told PTI on Thursday.

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What was the previous case?

SP Abhimanyu Manglik informed about the previous case against the accused Ashish Saroj, who had allegedly kidnapped the same 15-year-old girl on April 5, 2024 and held her captive for three months, during which he allegedly raped her repeatedly.

The police found the girl in July 2024, and Saroj was arrested. He was jailed under sections of rape and kidnapping of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), along with relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

However, he obtained bail from the Allahabad high court this February of this year and was subsequently released as a result of that.

With the fresh kidnapping, police are now looking for the accused again, with the hope that the girl would not come to any more harm