The Samajwadi Party (SP) is facing a major scandal as DNA evidence has confirmed the rape charges against Nawab Singh Yadav, a prominent leader and former block head of the party. The DNA evidence has solidly implicated Yadav in the sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl in Kannauj, Uttar Pradesh.
Nawab Singh Yadav, a figure closely associated with SP national president Akhilesh Yadav and his wife Dimple Yadav, has been accused of raping a minor girl. The incident, which occurred on the night of August 11, was reported to the Uttar Pradesh Police after the victim made an emergency call from Yadav’s residence. She had been lured under the guise of job prospects but found herself in a harrowing situation where Yadav is alleged to have assaulted her.
The 15-year-old victim had reported that Yadav had promised her a job and then assaulted her at his residence. The incident took place when the victim, accompanied by her aunt, went to Yadav’s college in search of employment. According to Kannauj SP, Amit Kumar Anand, the police received a call on 112 helpline number at around 1.30 pm. A girl alleged that she was had been stripped and an attempt of assault had been made on her.
Following the arrest on August 12, the police collected DNA samples from Yadav, which were sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Agra on August 17.
The forensic report, received on August 17, revealed that Yadav’s DNA matched the bodily fluids found on the victim, corroborating the rape allegations. This evidence aligns with the victim’s account and strengthens the case against Yadav under the under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Despite the clear forensic evidence, the Samajwadi Party has been unable to maintain its stance, and the party’s attempts to defend Yadav have only further damaged its reputation. The SP’s previous calls for DNA testing of accused individuals now appear hypocritical in light of the solid evidence against one of their own leaders.
The police are now preparing to file a charge sheet based on the forensic evidence. The sample collection was conducted at the district jail where Yadav is currently held, following his consent during a court hearing.
The SP’s defense of Yadav, spearheaded by leader Juhie Singh, has been marked by denial and blame-shifting. Singh demanded narco and DNA tests and “concrete evidence” if Yadav is actually a culprit and if not, then those involved in the conspiracy should also be brought to the public.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has rightly called for a public apology from Akhilesh Yadav, demanding that he and the SP take responsibility for their attempts to shield Yadav despite the overwhelming evidence. The BJP’s criticism highlights the necessity for political parties to uphold ethical standards and ensure justice for victims of sexual violence.
The scandal involving Yadav is part of a broader pattern of controversy within the Samajwadi Party. Just days before Yadav’s arrest, another SP leader, Moid Khan, and his servant, Raju Khan, were accused of gang-raping a minor girl from the Nishad community in Ayodhya. The bakery shop where the assault reportedly took place has since been demolished using a bulldozer, and Moid Khan’s close association with SP MP Awadhesh Prasad has further fueled the controversy.
Moid Khan had actively campaigned for Awadhesh Prasad in the recent Lok Sabha elections, and numerous photographs of Khan and Prasad together have surfaced, adding to the scandal’s political dimension.
