Gayatri Prajapati, UP cabinet minister went missing as the police closed in on him in connection with a rape case lodged against him on the directions of the Supreme Court. The minister remained unavailable at his official bungalow in Lucknow when police searched the premises identified as the scene of crime by the complainant for evidence.

"We had sent a police team to Amethi to record his statement, only to be told that he had left for Lucknow. But he hasn't reached Lucknow and was not available when a police team visited the house," Lucknow senior superintendent of police Manzil Saini said, confirming that the minister is absconding.

"As of now, we have to record his statements but if he continues to evade the police, we will have to go for other options," she said, not ruling out the possibilities of investigators approaching the court for a formal warrant against him.

"Efforts are on to locate the police escort provided to him as minister and trace Prajapati," said a senior officer.

Lucknow DIG Praveen Kumar said “though the complainant, who has accused Prajapati of rape has got her statement recorded before the court, the investigators had yet to record the statements of her minor daughter who is undergoing treatment at AIIMS in Delhi. The investigating officer (IO) will go to Delhi soon to record her statement after due clearance from the doctors attending to her."

By Premji