JNU student leader accused of rape surrenders before police

JNU PhD scholar Anmol Ratan, accused of raping a 28-year-old fellow student surrendered before the police on Wednesday night, hours after the victim recorded her statement before a magistrate.

JNU PhD scholar Anmol Ratan, accused of raping a 28-year-old fellow student, surrendered before the Delhi Police on Wednesday night.

A file photo of JNU administrative building. (Ajay Aggarwal/HT)

Nupur Prasad, additional DCP (south), confirmed that Ratan arrived at the Vasant Kunj North police station and surrendered before the investigating officer. He was accompanied by his lawyer.

Ratan was put under formal arrest and he will be produced before a city court on Thursday, police said. Sources said his surrender came after the complainant recorded her statement before the judicial magistrate.

Ratan was absconding after the victim filed a rape and criminal intimidation case against him on Sunday. .

On Tuesday, he had moved an anticipatory bail before a Delhi court which put up the matter for arguments on the next date of hearing on August 27.

The woman, a first-year PhD student, had told police that Ratan offered her a spiked drink when she went to his hostel room on Saturday to copy a movie on her pen drive. The victim said she accepted the drink and lost consciousness after which he raped her. She tried to raise an alarm after regaining consciousness but Ratan did not allow her to leave.

The accused, associated with the All India Students’ Association (AISA), allegedly threatened her with his “political clout” if she reported the matter.

Within hours of the FIR, the Left-affiliated AISA expelled Ratan from its primary membership.

Read| JNU student union demands action against rape accused