Nagpur rape accused in ICU, survivor battles scars in general ward of same hospital

NAGPUR: The 19-year-old Thane youth arrested late Monday for keeping the teenage daughter of a senior govt official in captivity for 24 hours and subjecting her to sexual torture, was swiftly moved from his dingy 8ftx8ft lock-up of Hudkeshwar police station to the air-conditioned ICU of Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) trauma centre early Thursday after he complained of serious health problems.Now, the accused and the survivor are recuperating in the same govt-run hospital and while the 16-year-old battles mental and physical trauma at the gynaecological ward where she underwent plastic surgery, the Thane youth got back his comfort level in the air-conditioned chamber.Hailing from an upscale Thane neighbourhood, the accused who had been demanding VIP treatment in custody, began banging his head and face against the floor and walls of the lock-up post-midnight and inflicted self-injuries, said police.The youth had been uncooperative during interrogation and refused to share the password of his locked phone and that of the survivor, forcing police to rope in cyber experts to access their chat history.As per the GMCH medical report accessed by TOI, the youth suffered a fracture in the orbital bone and excess air was detected in the pericardial cavity around his heart. Doctors noted these findings during the mandatory medical examination and moved him to the ICU, scheduling an advanced CT scan to assess the volume of air in his chest cavity.“An overdose of libido-enhancing drugs can trigger health complications, including serious heart problems. Intense exertion during sexual acts could also have contributed to air suction around the heart,” said a senior medical expert at the govt-run hospital. The youth will be kept under observation for at least 24 hours, said doctors.Police expressed surprise that parents of the accused did not turn up at the police station even as their Thane home was being meticulously searched by a police team for electronic devices, storage media, documents or other material that could strengthen the case. Surgical blades and sex contraptions were seized from the accused’s bedroom during the search, said top police sources. “A close family member has come to Nagpur, but he’s avoiding calls and not helping in the probe,” said a senior police officer.“The youth had begun complaining about inhospitable conditions of the lock-up, including dim light, swarming mosquitoes, stinking loo, and also demanded pizza for lunch. During the medical check-up, he levelled allegations against police and complained of critical health issues. This made doctors admit him in the ICU,” said an official of Hudkeshwar police station. Sources said, cops have been deployed outside to monitor his movements.On Thursday, police tabled the accused’s medical report before the special POCSO court and sought magisterial custody. The prosecution told court the accused stonewalled the interrogation, threw tantrums and declined to provide passwords of the seized mobile phones, making custodial questioning essential.Hearing the submissions, the court granted magisterial custody and reserved police’s right to seek custody after the accused was discharged from hospital.Police believe the accused’s phone contains critical clues on other potential victims and unlocking the devices with help of cyber experts will help protect other targets of the accused.At GMCH, doctors performed plastic surgery on the survivor’s left hand to repair deep wounds caused by a surgical blade attack. She had been held captive in a rented flat in Dighori, handcuffed and tied, subjected to repeated sexual assaults, forced to consume sex-enhancing pills and left with multiple knife and belt injuries before being rescued in a late-night operation.You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Nagpur | Silver Rate in Nagpur | Bank Holidays in Nagpur | Public Holidays in Nagpur | Petrol Price in Nagpur | Diesel Price in Nagpur | CNG Price in Nagpur | LPG Price in NagpurStay updated with the latest Nagpur news. Download the TOI App.