Lucknow, November 20: The Uttar Pradesh (UP) Police on Tuesday arrested Mahesh Singh, uncle of Unnao rape case victim, from Delhi's Nangloi, in an alleged attempt to murder. The main accused in the Unnao rape case is BJP MLA from Unnao, Kuldeep Singh Sengar, who allegedly raped a 17-year-old girl in Unnao.

The Unnao rape case came to light in April, when the victim along with her family members tried to immolate herself outside Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s residence. The victim wanted to take her life and alleged that the local police had failed to act on her rape complaint as the accused was an MLA.

Later, the family alleged that the girl's father was arrested by the police and was beaten in police custody, causing his death. Despite outrage, the BJP MLA was not arrested.

It was only when the case gained widespread attention, and after the Allahabad High Court's rebuke on UP government's tardy approach in arresting the prime accused, BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar, despite an FIR against him. The court had said that "law and order has collapsed in the state". Later, the BJP MLA was arrested by police and the UP government formed a SIT to investigate the case. Unnao Rape Case: BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar Taken to Court by CBI After Medical Check-Up Along with Victim.

The family of the victim in August demanded that the body of the a key witness be exhumed for an autopsy, so that the reason for his death can be ascertained. Unnao Rape Case: CBI Files Charge-Sheet Against Uttar Pradesh BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar.

The key witness in the case, Yunus, reportedly died on August 18, and was a key witness in the related case where the girl's father was allegedly beaten by the police and succumbed to his injuries in police custody in Maki police station on April 9, 2018. The Uttar Pradesh police, exhumed the body and ruled out any poisoning or suspicious act in the death of the key witness.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 20, 2018 09:27 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).