Lucknow: In a major breakthrough, the Mahanagar Police arrested a wanted accused, Pawan Kumar Barnwal, who had been absconding after allegedly raping and abetting the suicide of a 24-year-old woman. The arrest was made near Khatu Shyam Mandir at the Uttarayani Mela Ground, Lucknow.
Case Background:
The accused, Pawan Kumar Barnwal (27), son of Ramesh Kumar Barnwal, hails from Narottam Nagar, Sidhauli, Sitapur and was residing in Bhikhampur, Paper Mill Road, under Mahanagar Police Station limits. Pawan, a badminton coach by profession, had been in contact with the victim, a 24-year-old woman.
On April 30, 2025, he allegedly called the victim to his rented room in Bhikhampur. After the incident, Pawan summoned the victim’s cousin, who discovered the woman lying lifeless inside the room. She immediately informed the victim’s father, who in turn, along with his son, alerted the police via Dial 112.
A police team arrived promptly, securing the scene and conducting investigations with the field unit. A panchayatnama and post-mortem were conducted, confirming the suspicious circumstances of the death.
Legal Proceedings:
Based on a written complaint by the victim’s father, FIR No. 102/25 was registered on May 1, 2025, under:
- Sections 64(1)/108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)
- Section 3(2)(v) of the SC/ST Act
Initially, the case included Section 103(1) BNS (rape), but due to lack of sufficient evidence, it was dropped and replaced with Section 108 BNS (abetment of suicide) based on further inquiry.
Since the day of the incident, the accused had been on the run and was declared wanted. A dedicated police team tracked him down and successfully apprehended him on May 6, 2025.
Interrogation Findings:
During questioning, the accused confessed to inviting the woman to his room, following which the incident occurred. Post-incident, he fled the location, avoiding police action until his arrest.
Arrested Accused:
- Name: Pawan Kumar Barnwal
- Age: Approximately 27 years
- Occupation: Badminton Coach
Police Team Responsible for Arrest:
- Sub-Inspector Ved Prakash Yadav
- Sub-Inspector Satyendra Kumar
- Sub-Inspector Himanshu Pratap Singh
- Sub-Inspector Rajendra Prasad
- Constable Biranjan Pal
The accused is currently in police custody and will be presented before a magistrate for further legal proceedings.
