Probe cops who took rape case lightly, says Bombay HC

Mumbai: Stating that ‘though this may be a routine thing for the investigating machinery, it continues to disturb us’, the Bombay high court has asked the deputy commissioner of police (zone 6) to initiate an inquiry against officers of the RCF police station, Chembur who allegedly dealt with the rape case of a 16-year-old girl casually. The girl was allegedly abducted and raped by a local goon, Yogesh Verma, in May 2017.

The court also asked DCP to submit a report on the next hearing about what departmental action he has taken against the officers. “We would expect the superiors to launch a probe and investigate as to how the officials in the police station concerned have taken this case so casually and lightly. Let there be an explanation called for and later on the superiors must launch disciplinary proceedings,” the court said.  

The court, while hearing the petition, felt that the police is not paying serious attention to such cases. “When will the state machinery be sensitised and gear itself up to probe such serious crimes where the victims are minor girls. We do not want more minors to be exploited,” the court said. “They are suffering inhuman treatment after they are taken away or are lured away from the custody of their parents,” the court said.

A division bench of Justice S.C. Dharm-adhikari and Justice Bharti Dange was hearing a petition filed by the mother of the victim. After the incident occurred, a first information report was registered under section 376 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 4 and 8 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act was registered at RCF police station. The police, however, did not record her statement. Therefore, she approached the high court. The police had recorded her statement on the court’s directions and arrested accused. But he was released on bail after a few days.

The court also came to know that police did not object to his bail or appealed in the high court. The additional public prosecutor had informed the court orally that the police has moved against the bail. The court has kept the matter for hearing on December 11.