SP Leader Moid Khan Acquitted, Servant Sentenced to 20 Years in Ayodhya Gangrape Case

In a high-profile case that had shaken Uttar Pradesh in 2024, a special POCSO court acquitted Samajwadi Party leader Moid Khan in the gangrape of a 12-year-old girl, while sentencing his servant, Raju, to 20 years imprisonment along with a fine of ₹50,000.

The court relied heavily on DNA evidence presented during the trial. Moid Khan, 66, tested negative, whereas Raju’s DNA sample matched the forensic sample from the victim, leading to his conviction.

Presiding Special Judge Nirupama Vikram acquitted Moid Khan on Wednesday, while Raju received the sentence on Thursday.

Moid Khan’s lawyer, Saeed Khan, stated that the crime did not take place at Moid Khan’s bakery but at a location considerably distant from it. Thirteen witnesses were examined, and during lengthy cross-examinations, the prosecution was unable to effectively counter the defense’s arguments.

The lawyer also claimed that the case against Moid Khan was part of a political conspiracy, pointing out that forensic analysis of the mobile phone, allegedly used to record the crime, did not support the allegations against him.

Both Moid Khan and Raju were arrested by Ayodhya Police on July 30, 2024, a day after the alleged incident. Authorities had accused them of committing the crime two months prior and allegedly recording it.

The case had sparked a political storm across the state. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had raised the issue in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, emphasizing Moid Khan’s position as a Samajwadi Party member and an associate of an MP from Ayodhya. The CM had also met the victim’s family.

Following the FIR, the Ayodhya district administration demolished Moid Khan’s multi-storey shopping complex and a 3,000-square-foot bakery. The minor victim underwent abortion at Queen Mary Hospital, Lucknow. Two police officers, then Station House Officer Ratan Sharma and a constable, were suspended for negligence in handling the case.

The court’s verdict, based primarily on DNA evidence, has brought clarity to a case that had stirred widespread outrage and political controversy, highlighting the critical role of forensic science in criminal justice.