Cop wants FIR against molesters quashed

New Delhi, November 30

Refusing a police woman's plea to quash an FIR against her alleged molesters, the Delhi High Court has said they should be "taught a lesson" and wondered if female police officers are not safe in the city, how common girls would fare.

Justice Pratibha Rani made the observation while hearing a plea in connection with the molestation of a Delhi Police woman constable.

The woman was molested at around 10 pm near west Delhi's Mayapuri area, while she was returning home from work recently.

The accused were three youths who had chased the woman. Apart from passing derogatory and lewd remarks, they had also grabbed her hand.

However, when she had resisted and shouted that she was a cop, the trio fled the scene.

After lodging an FIR, police had found that the accused resided in the same area as the woman.

After the youths had apologised and some others intervened, the woman decided to withdraw the case and filed a petition for quashing the FIR.

Justice Pratibha Rani, however, was not of the same opinion as the woman constable.

The court not only rapped the accused for not respecting women, it also remarked that the woman constable should have taught them a lesson then and there.

The judge observed that the woman cop was alone at that time, but now the court was with her and will teach the accused a lesson so that they do not repeat such behaviour in future and directed the youths to bring their parents to court tomorrow, the next date of hearing.

The court also refused to quash the FIR saying, "If a Delhi Police officer can't walk on the street what will happen to common girls?" It also refused to heed the apologies tendered by the accused in the open court. — PTI