A 17-year-old girl, studying in Class 11, was allegedly raped by a friend of her father in Bhopal, police said. The matter came to light when the girl was experiencing severe pain in her abdomen, following which her parents took her to a hospital, where it was revealed she was pregnant.

The accused, identified as Akash Yadav, was reportedly the brother-in-law of a close friend of the girl’s father. Due to the close ties between the two families, there was frequent interaction and visits between them, thereby creating a sense of familiarity and trust.

Police said the girl told them that Yadav once asked for her phone number during one of his visits to her home and she gave it to him, Sukhi Sewaniya police station in-charge Rambabu Choudhry told India Today TV. Following this, he began calling her regularly and engaged in conversations over the phone.

Over time, the accused utilised the phone conversations to befriend her and this went on for several weeks, Choudhry said.

The girl alleged that the accused visited her home in February and deliberately took advantage of the situation when she was feeling vulnerable. She also alleged that Yadav raped her and then threatened her to keep quiet and not disclose the incident to anyone.

Later, the survivor told her mother that she had missed her periods and was experiencing severe abdominal pain. Her family then took her to a doctor, and it was revealed that she was pregnant.

“The girl came to the police station with her parents on May 25. She revealed all these details during a counselling session arranged by the police for her. Akash Yadav had been a regular visitor to her home because of his familial connection,” Chaudhary said.

A case was registered against Yadav under sections 64(1) (rape) and 351(3) (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 3 and 4 of the Pocso Act, he added.

The accused is on the run and a manhunt has been launched to nab him.