Probe against Kolkata cops after HC slams faulty rape inquiry
KOLKATA: Kolkata police initiated an inquiry on Saturday against the officer-in-charge of Lake police station in the city, two senior male officers, and three women officers following criticism from Calcutta high court the day before over a flawed investigation into a rape complaint by the wife of a senior govt official posted outside Bengal.
The complaint was lodged after the woman, a senior manager at a private company, accused a man of sexually assaulting her at her home in Kolkata on July 14 and 15.The woman said she was raped twice in two days and alleged that when she went to file a complaint on July 15, police officers at Lake police station coerced her into withdrawing it, calling in the wife and son of the accused.
The investigation was marred by procedural lapses, such as the failure to conduct a medical examination or seize CCTV footage from the crime scene. The woman sought medical examination on her own at MR Bangur Hospital.
HC was particularly critical of the initial investigation, which diluted the charges by registering less severe sections of BNS for the crime. A “nil” checklist submitted by the investigating officer resulted in the accused obtaining bail on July 16 – a day after the alleged crime. HC cancelled the bail granted by a lower court and also revoked the anticipatory bail granted by an Alipore sessions judge on Sept 10. Police said the accused must surrender by Monday or face arrest.
Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj directed action against the police officers “for their failure to follow norms and for tampering with the complaint”. HC transferred the case to the deputy commissioner of the women’s grievance cell at Kolkata police headquarters Lalbazar, and instructed police commissioner Manoj Verma to take disciplinary action. “The probe has started,” an officer said.
Police contended that the woman’s complaint was recorded, even though she had initially communicated via WhatsApp and a video call. Police said the FIR filed on July 15 did not name the accused, and the medical report did not confirm rape. However, after the woman gave a statement before a magistrate, police sought the cancellation of the accused’s bail.