In a significant escalation of a high-profile case, the Lucknow Police have intensified their manhunt for Dr. Rameezuddin Naik, a doctor from King George's Medical University (KGMU), who is accused of rape, forced religious conversion, and causing miscarriage. The police have now deployed five special teams across Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand to track down the fugitive medic.
Reward Doubled as Search Expands
Frustrated by the accused's evasion tactics, authorities have significantly increased the incentive for his capture. The reward for information leading to the arrest of Dr. Rameezuddin Naik has been revised upwards to Rs 50,000 from the initial Rs 25,000. A non-bailable warrant is already active against him. Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Vishwajeet Srivastava confirmed that search operations have been intensified across state lines to apprehend the accused at the earliest possible moment.
Parents Arrested for Alleged Key Role
In a dramatic development on Monday, the police arrested the parents of the accused doctor, alleging their direct involvement in the crime. Salimuddin, 70, and his wife Khateeja, 67, were taken into custody from a rented flat in Lucknow's Thakurganj area. According to DCP Srivastava, the elderly couple played a pivotal role in the alleged religious conversion and forced miscarriage of two women medical students.
The police claim the parents were actively involved in the incidents concerning one student from KGMU in Lucknow and another from a medical college in Agra. Their arrest marks a crucial turn in the investigation, pointing to a broader familial involvement in the alleged offences.
Charges and the Initial Complaint
The case originated from a written complaint filed by the KGMU student at the Chowk police station on December 23. In her complaint, she alleged that her senior, Dr. Naik, established a physical relationship with her under the false pretext of marriage. She further accused him of later forcing her to terminate her pregnancy and pressuring her to convert her religion.
Based on this complaint, a First Information Report (FIR) was registered under relevant sections of the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) pertaining to rape, causing miscarriage, and marriage by deceit. Additionally, charges were invoked under Sections 3 and 5 of the stringent Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Act, 2021.
The investigation widened when a second woman, a medical student from Agra, came forward with similar allegations against the same doctor. She also accused him of sexual assault, forced religious conversion, and causing a miscarriage, corroborating the pattern of alleged crimes.
The Lucknow Police's multi-state operation and the arrest of the accused's parents underscore the seriousness with which authorities are treating this case, which intertwines allegations of sexual violence, deceit, and unlawful religious conversion.
