Daijiworld Media Network - Kanpur
Kanpur, Jul 7: A retired IAS officer's son has been arrested for allegedly attempting to murder a woman by attacking her with a brick after she refused his marriage proposal in Uttar Pradesh's Bithoor, police said.
The accused, Devashish Nigam, son of retired IAS officer Chandra Nigam, allegedly assaulted the victim, a widow employed at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Kanpur, leaving her with serious head and facial injuries.
According to police, the incident occurred on Saturday when Nigam picked up the woman near the IIT-Kanpur campus in his car and drove towards Brahm Ghat in Bithoor.
During the journey, Nigam allegedly pressured the woman to marry him. When she refused, an argument broke out between the two.
Police said Nigam then stopped the vehicle near Model Dairy along the railway service road and allegedly attacked the woman with a brick.
Investigators said the woman tried to protect herself by locking the car doors, but Nigam allegedly smashed a window, dragged her out of the vehicle and repeatedly struck her on the head and body.
Hearing her screams, local residents rushed to the spot, overpowered the accused and handed him over to the police.
The injured woman was admitted to Lala Lajpat Rai Hospital, where she regained consciousness nearly 24 hours after the attack and is undergoing treatment.
The victim's sister alleged that Nigam had been harassing her sister for some time and repeatedly pressuring her to marry him despite her refusal.
She further claimed that he had threatened the victim in the past, allegedly saying that no one could take action against him because his mother was a retired IAS officer.
Police identified the accused as a resident of Raj Tower in Swaroop Nagar and confirmed that his mother, Chandra Nigam, is a retired IAS officer.
Officials said Nigam married in 2014 and has a daughter, but has reportedly been living separately from his wife for the past six months. The victim is also a widow and has a teenage daughter.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) S.M. Qasim Abidi said a case has been registered against Nigam under sections related to attempt to murder and voluntarily causing grievous hurt.
"The accused was arrested on Sunday and a detailed investigation into all aspects of the case is underway," the officer said.
Videos of the alleged assault and local residents confronting the accused have surfaced on social media, triggering widespread outrage.