Bahraich cops file gang rape case under MV Act

BAHRAICH: The Ramgaon police registered a gang rape case after a delay of six months but under the Motor Vehicle Act. The case was lodged only on local court's order on victim's complaint. Later, the investigation officer (IO) even filed the final report in the case. The lid over the botch-up was blown when victim's husband moved an application under RTI on July 3, 2014 seeking the status of the case.
The applicant was shocked when the reply received from Mehsi circle officer's office on Wednesday stated that no case of gang rape was registered with the Ramgaon police station. Instead a case was registered under the MV Act and investigating officer sub-inspector Akmal Khan had already filed the final report stating, "As the case has been registered under the MV Act and not as a rape case, it should be closed."
ASP Sunil Singh told TOI that the report submitted to the SP office by Mehsi CO Aslam Khan on July 8, was shocking as no case of gang rape was mentioned. The CO had stated that the case was registered under 335/14 Motor Vehicle Act.
Stating that the gang rape case was registered as crime case number 338, the ASP said that a probe had been ordered to ascertain as to how it got registered at crime case number 335. "It could be a clerical mistake," he said.
Singh further said that CO Aslam Khan would probe the mistake and also the action of the IO concerned for filing the final report without verifying facts.
According to reports, a woman had left her house on October 13, 2013 to visit Dussehra fair. On her way back, she was abducted and gang raped by seven persons. When the victim went to the Ramgaon police station to lodge her complaint, she was turned away. Later, she moved local court, which directed the Ramgaon police to register a case of abduction and gang-rape.