Madhya Pradesh: Man arrested for filming rape on busy footpath in Ujjain

Ujjain's Superintendent of Police Pradeep Sharma said the accused has been identified as Mohammad Salim, a 42-year-old autorickshaw driver.

Sharma added that after the incident was reported, district police, along with cyber and social media teams, were “mobilized to track down the person responsible for filming the incident and spreading the video online.”

“Within a few hours, the teams identified the accused who made the video. The accused has also been found to have a previous criminal record,” Sharma said.

Sharma said that the accused is currently being interrogated, and his mobile phone is under examination. Salim has been charged under Sections 72 (disclosure of the identity of the victim in certain offenses), 77 (capturing or watching an image of a woman engaged in a private act), and 294 (sale of obscene content) of the BNS, as well as Section 67 of the IT Act and Section 4 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act.

According to police, the woman was raped on a footpath on Wednesday in one of the busiest intersections—Koyla Phatak.

The police reported that the incident was recorded by a passerby, and although several people witnessed it, no one intervened.

According to the police, the woman identified the accused as Lokesh in her complaint, who was arrested within two hours of the FIR being filed. Lokesh allegedly promised to marry her, gave her liquor, and then raped her.

Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav vowed strict action and criticized the opposition for politicizing the crime while remaining silent on the Kolkata rape-murder case.

Responding to criticisms that the BJP government in MP has failed to protect women, Yadav stated that the state operates under the rule of law and will act firmly against anyone committing a crime.

“No one will be spared. Be it Ujjain or (anywhere in) the state, we are committed to good governance under the leadership of the Prime Minister,” he was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.

Ujjain is the hometown of Yadav, who also holds the portfolio of home ministry. He said, “Those who are doing politics should look into their own affairs. It will be understandable if they take care of the states ruled by them. They do not open their mouths on the incident in Kolkata (rape-murder of a trainee doctor).”