Kanpur court gives 10-year jail term to top cop in rape case

Shahi was last posted in Pratapgarh district and was put under suspension after he was charged with abduction and rape of the girl.

The prosecution produced nine witnesses while defence examined 10 witnesses. On Thursday, the court declared him guilty after which Shahi, who was out on bail. was taken into custody.

The victim’s lawyer Ajit Shukla said punishment of 10 years is too less and therefore they would appeal against the judgment in the high court.

According to prosecution, the case dates back to 2010 when the 15-year-old girl took part in an air show organised during Republic Day function in Kanpur. Shahi, who was then posted in Kanpur, appreciated the girl. Later, he developed closeness with girl’s family and started visiting them regularly.

The prosecution added that in November 2010 when the girl was alone at home, Shahi visited their place and asked her to bring tea and biscuits. He then asked for water. When she went inside, Shahi mixed a powder in the girl’s tea, following which she fell unconscious. He then raped her and recorded an MMS of the act, advocate Shukla said. 

The next day, Shahi visited the victim’s home again and threatened her to show the MMS to others if she did not follow his diktat. Since then he visited her house several times and raped her.

Shukla also said that in January 2012, Shahi, then posted in Pratapgarh, called up the girl and asked her to meet him near Ramadev crossing in Kanpur. When the girl, then in Class XII, reached the place, he pulled her inside his vehicle and took her to Pratapgarh. When she did not return home, her father searched for her and reached Pratapgarh. Shahi, however, did not allow him to take her back. On January 22, Shahi allowed him to take his daughter home

In March, 2012, Shahi again visited the girl’s house, leading to quarrel. Irked over the occurence, the girl consumed some poisonous substance and was admitted to district hospital. On March 13, the girl filed a complaint against her father and his two associates on charges of raping her. However, the victim denied having alleged her father when her statement was recorded before the court.

Later, on March 15, 2012, her father got an FIR lodged alleging Shahi had abducted and molested his daughter. The police included rape charges on the basis of the girl’s statement before the magistrate. Following police pressure, Shahi later surrendered before the court which sent him to judicial custody. He remained in jail for over a year till he was granted bail.