In a significant development in the King George's Medical University (KGMU) junior resident rape and forced conversion case, the Lucknow police have identified and are searching for two key individuals allegedly involved in an earlier coercive marriage orchestrated by the accused doctor.
Key Individuals Identified in Pilibhit
Police teams on Saturday traced the alleged involvement of two men in connection with a nikah (marriage) that the arrested doctor, Rameezuddin alias Rameez (31), is accused of conducting under pressure with a woman from Agra. The individuals have been identified as Shariq Khan, a friend of the accused who allegedly acted as a witness to the marriage, and Qazi Saiyyad Zahid Hasan, who is suspected to have solemnised the union.
Investigators assert that this marriage was not conducted with the woman's free will. "The nikah was conducted under pressure and coercion, without the woman's free consent," stated a police source familiar with the probe.
Investigation Uncovers Trail to Pilibhit
The breakthrough came after a meticulous analysis of call detail records (CDR), location data, and statements provided by Rameezuddin during his interrogation following his arrest. This evidence led the investigative teams to Pilibhit, where the controversial nikah with the Agra-based woman is believed to have been performed.
Police teams are now actively searching for both Shariq Khan and Qazi Zahid Hasan. Their primary objective is to establish their exact roles in the event and determine whether they were aware of the alleged coercion and unlawful religious conversion that accompanied the marriage ceremony.
Arrests and Serious Allegations
The main accused, a junior resident at the prestigious KGMU, was finally apprehended on Friday, near the City Station in Lucknow. A joint team from the West Lucknow surveillance unit and Chowk police made the arrest after Rameez had been absconding since December 23. A reward of Rs 50,000 had been announced for information leading to his capture.
Rameez, a resident of Pilibhit who also had temporary addresses in Lucknow and Uttarakhand, faces a slew of grave charges. These include:
- Repeatedly raping a junior woman doctor on the false promise of marriage.
- Forcing her to undergo an abortion without her consent.
- Coercing her into religious conversion.
- Similarly coercing a woman from Agra into marriage and conversion.
Following his arrest, Rameez claimed he was being framed. In a related development, his elderly parents, father Salimuddin (70) and mother Khateja (67), were also arrested on January 5 and sent to judicial custody.
Police Vow Watertight Case and Fast-Track Trial
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Vishwajeet Srivastava has emphasized the department's commitment to a thorough investigation. Given the severe nature of the allegations, police will seek a fast-track trial.
"All evidence—documentary, technical and testimonial—is being collected so that there is no loophole in the investigation," DCP Srivastava said. "We will strongly pursue a fast-track hearing to ensure timely justice to the victim."
The case continues to unfold as police work to piece together the full extent of the alleged crimes and bring all involved to justice.
