In a police complaint filed two days ago, the girl, a first-year BA student in a local college, said that three women were also involved in the incident.

Santrampur Police Sub-Inspector D K Bhoi said: “She has alleged that her uncle’s three sons, a daughter and six others abducted her in December and sexually abused her. She also claimed that she had managed to escape recently and then filed the complaint.”

He added that the girl has been sent to Godhra Civil Hospital for a medical check-up and the report is expected on Monday.

Sources in the Panchmahals police said the police suspect a foul play in the allegations.

They said the girl claimed that she was living with one of her friends, Manisha, but Manisha denied this. Also, the police said that it was the girl’s family who insisted that they dictate the complaint and not the girl.

Senior police officers also said the girl’s father, SB Maliwad, was involved in a land dispute with his brother, and this might be the possible reason as to why he filed the complaint against his brother’s children. Panchmahals Deputy Superintendent of Police A R Upadhyay, who is overseeing the investigation, said the girl did not file the complaint at the Santrampur Police Station, but approached the Superintendent of Police.

“She went directly to the top and we were ordered to file the complaint and begin investigation,” Upadhyay said.