JNU rape case accused Anmol Ratan surrenders

Former Aisa president and JNU student Anmol Ratan, who was booked for allegedly raping his fellow student on the university campus, surrendered before the Delhi police at the Vasant Kunj north police station late on Wednesday evening.

The Ph.D. student was booked for sexually assaulting a female doctorate student on Sunday and had been absconding since then, said the police. Ratan has been booked under Sections 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC. Additional deputy commissioner of police (south) Nupur Prasad confirmed that Ratan had surrendered at the police station.

Ratan had sought an anticipatory bail on Tuesday, which was denied to him and hearing of the plea has been fixed on August 27.

On Tuesday, when Ratan’s anticipatory bail application was moved, his advocate Rajiv Mohan asserted that the female student and his client knew each other. Arguing briefly on the anticipatory bail plea, the lawyer told the court of additional sessions judge Amit Bansal that it was the complainant who had gone to the accused’s room in the Brahmputra Hostel.

Mr Mohan argued that the complaint was the result of a “political rivalry” as Ratan was a member of left-wing students’ group Aisa and the complainant was a part of the Collective, an independent student initiative in JNU, and they had “ideological differences.” He also cited the forthcoming JNU elections as one of the reasons, given the “political rivalry” between the two outfits.

On Wednesday, the female student recorded her statement before the metropolitan magistrate in which she said that Ratan took her to his hostel room on the pretext of giving her a copy of the movie, Sairat.

“The woman stood by her charges in the statement recorded before the magistrate under Section 164 of CrPC,” said Ms Prasad. The victim was supposed to record her statement on Monday but it could not happen as she cited health issues. On Tuesday, she was present in the court but the statement could not be recorded as by the time her turn came, it was late.

The complainant alleged that he offered her a drink which was spiked and raped her after she fell unconscious. The complainant also claimed the accused had threatened her of dire consequences if she told anyone about the incident.

Taking serious note of the incident Sunday evening, the Aisa had expelled Ratan from its primary membership. In a statement, the students’ organisation said, “We will reflect on and deal with this issue with all the firmness it deserves.”