New Delhi: The Ghaziabad unit chief of the Hindu Yuva Vahini, Sushil Prajapati, was given a grand welcome by his supporters after being released on bail. He had spent nearly nine months in jail following his arrest in a rape case last year.
Videos capturing the celebration quickly surfaced on social media platforms. The footage shows Prajapati being greeted with multiple large flower garlands and carried through the streets on the shoulders of his followers. His supporters gathered to join the celebratory procession organised immediately after he walked out of jail on May 17.
The case against Prajapati dates back to last year when an LLB student accused him of sexual assault. According to the police complaint, he allegedly took the young woman to a flat under the false pretext of introducing her to a senior advocate but he allegedly sexually assaulted her.
UP lives upto its local traditional grandeur, they garland, applaud and celebrate a Rape Accused.
Accused in Ghaziabad, UP, LLB student rape case, Hindu Yuva Vahini leader Sushil Prajapati, released from jail, supporters hoisted him on shoulders, took out procession !!
Tears… pic.twitter.com/FtpSiC14p6
— We The People (@WithYou2023) May 19, 2026
Political backlash over controversial celebration
The grand public celebration has drawn heavy criticism from various quarters. The men surrounding the accused in the video could be seen flashing victory ‘V’ signs while others held their mobile phones high in the air to record the ongoing rally.
The incident has triggered sharp political reactions with former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav strongly condemning the public welcome. Yadav attacked the ruling BJP over the issue of women’s safety, questioning the message such a celebration sends to society.
जिस अपनी वाहिनी की भूरी-भूरी प्रशंसा प्रदेश के मुख्यमंत्री जी ने अभी हाल में ही की थी, उस वाहिनी के ‘बलात्कार के आरोपी’ एक बड़े पदाधिकारी की जमानत होने पर, जिस तरह उसका पुष्प वर्षा व माल्यार्पण से स्वागत हुआ है, उससे निंदनीय और कुछ नहीं हो सकता।
लगता है माननीय अगला चुनाव… pic.twitter.com/OwS2cbBtZP
— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) May 19, 2026
Meanwhile, local authorities have taken note of the public display. The Ghaziabad police confirmed that they are currently investigating the viral videos which depict the convoy of vehicles and the large crowd showering the rape accused with flowers during his return.