The Nagaland government has informed the Union Home Ministry that Syed Sarifuddin Khan, accused of rape and lynched by a mob in Dimapur on March 5, had given a statement to the police claiming that he had consensual sex with the woman who later accused him of rape.

“We have received the report, according to which Syed Sarifuddin Khan was arrested on February 24. In a statement to the police, he disclosed that he had consensual sex with the complainant twice and had paid her Rs. 5,000,” said an official of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

According to the report, Sarifuddin told the police that the woman established physical relationship with him on her own and then started demanding more money from him.

When he refused to pay up, she allegedly lodged a complaint with the police, accusing him of having raped her.

“The State government has informed us that investigations are still under way. Further probe would be conducted on the basis of forensic evidence and medical examination of the complainant,” said the official. The police have also collected CCTV footage from a hotel where Sarifuddin had allegedly taken the woman.