A 23-year-old man, Ashish Saroj, released on bail in February 2025 after being jailed for kidnapping and raping a 15-year-old girl in 2024, has allegedly abducted her again, triggering an urgent police manhunt.

The latest kidnapping occurred on March 22, with Saroj reportedly aided by his parents and a male relative, according to a complaint lodged by the victim’s mother at Bhadohi Kotwali Police Station on Wednesday.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Abhimanyu Manglik revealed that Saroj first kidnapped the girl on April 5, 2024, holding her captive for three months and repeatedly raping her. Rescued in July 2024, her ordeal led to Saroj’s arrest under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for rape and kidnapping, alongside charges under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Despite this, the Allahabad High Court granted him bail last month.

The victim’s mother’s fresh complaint alleges that Saroj, emboldened by his release, struck again last Saturday. “We’ve registered an FIR against Saroj, his parents, and a male relative for kidnapping,” SP Manglik said on Thursday. “Multiple teams are deployed to recover the girl and apprehend the accused.”

The case has sparked outrage, spotlighting concerns over bail decisions in serious crimes. As the search intensifies, police are probing the family’s alleged complicity, determined to bring the minor to safety and Saroj back behind bars in this chilling repeat offense. (250 words)