Rourkela: Six years after he went into hiding, the stepfather of then 13-year-old girl — a key accused in her 2020 rape and illegal abortion case in Sundargarh district — was arrested by the crime branch on Saturday, police said on Monday.The 43-year-old accused was produced before a Pocso court, which remanded him in judicial custody. Earlier, a police inspector, a doctor and a homeguard-cum-driver were arrested in connection with the case.The crime came to light after district child protection officer Sribant Jena lodged an FIR on June 24, 2020, following allegations of sexual assault and illegal termination of pregnancy of the minor. The FIR named two police personnel, a doctor, two youths known to the girl and her stepfather as the accused.According to the FIR and the girl’s statement, she was repeatedly sexually assaulted by a senior police officer at a police station. After she became pregnant, she was allegedly brought to the police station on June 14, 2020, where arrangements were made for termination of her pregnancy.Taking serious note of the allegations, then DGP Abhay ordered a crime branch probe into the case on June 30, 2020. Inspector in-charge of the police station concerned was dismissed from service on July 1, 2020, and arrested by the crime branch later that day. Subsequently, a medical officer who allegedly carried out the abortion, and the driver accused of assisting the police officer were also arrested.The girl’s stepfather had been absconding for the past six years before his arrest on Saturday. “The accused was arrested by the crime branch and produced before the Pocos court, which sent him to judicial custody,” said inspector R P Nag.
