Surat BJP Leader and Friend Arrested for Allegedly Drugging, Gang-Raping Woman; Party Suspends Accused
In a shocking development, police in Gujarat’s Surat city have arrested a local BJP leader and his associate for allegedly drugging and gang-raping a 23-year-old woman.
The accused, identified as Aditya Upadhyay (24), who served as the General Secretary of the BJP’s Ward 8 unit, and his friend Gaurav Rajput (23), a food delivery executive, were taken into custody after the survivor complained on Sunday.
According to the police, the survivor, originally from Uttar Pradesh but currently residing in Surat with her parents, came in contact with Upadhyay a few months ago through a social media platform.
Their interactions became regular, and Upadhyay later introduced her to his friend Rajput. The three began conversing frequently, and the survivor even introduced one of her female friends to Rajput.
On Saturday, the group—comprising Upadhyay, Rajput, the survivor, and her friend—set out for a beach outing. However, the police said that instead of going to the planned location, the accused took them to a different beach within Surat district.
There, Upadhyay allegedly spiked a cold drink and offered it to both women. While the survivor consumed the drink, her friend declined.
Following the visit, the group returned to Surat city. After dropping the survivor’s friend home, the two men allegedly took the semi-conscious survivor to a hotel, where they booked a room and took turns sexually assaulting her, police said.
They later dropped her back home late Saturday night.
The next day, the woman approached the police and filed a formal complaint. Based on her statement, an FIR was registered, and both accused were booked under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Section 70(1) (gang rape), Section 75(2) (sexual harassment), and Section 123 (causing harm using poison or similar substances with intent to commit a crime).
The inspector handling the case said, “Aditya is a married man and manages his father’s cable network business in Surat. Gaurav Rajput, who is unmarried, works as a food delivery executive at a private restaurant.” He added that the accused had premeditated the outing and conspired to drug the survivor before taking her to the hotel where the crime occurred.
On Monday, the woman underwent a medical examination at a local hospital. Her viscera samples were collected and sent to the forensic science laboratory for further analysis. Police also stated that medical tests of the accused would be conducted later that evening.
In light of the allegations, the BJP acted swiftly to distance itself from the accused. Surat City BJP President Paresh Patel stated on Monday, confirming that Aditya Upadhyay had been suspended from all party responsibilities and stripped of his active membership.
The investigation into the matter is ongoing, and authorities have assured a thorough probe to ensure justice for the survivor.
