Punish cops for bid to hush up rape case, HC tells DGP

CHANDIGARH: Rapping the state police for intentional sluggishness and sweeping under the carpet a minor’s rape case under political influence, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the DGP to initiate appropriate criminal and administrative action against the “erring police officers and officials”.

Saurabh Malik

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 22

Rapping the state police for intentional sluggishness and sweeping under the carpet a minor’s rape case under political influence, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the DGP to initiate appropriate criminal and administrative action against the “erring police officers and officials”.

The Bench made it clear that the action was required to be proportionate to “their misdemeanor and misconduct”. Justice Fateh Deep Singh also called for action taken report within a month. “The order’s copy be sent to the court and the Judicial Magistrate concerned to ensure due adherence of law of the land before the judgment’s pronouncement,” Justice Fateh Deep Singh added.

The admonition and direction came on a petition by 18-year-old victim’s father, after the Bench was told that she was sent to the house of a sarpanch, Harbans Kaur, by the petitioner’s family for help during a religious ceremony due to closeness between the families. But the sarpanch colluded and connived with one Sukhchain Singh of her village and “managed physical relation of petitioner’s minor daughter with him against her wishes in June 2016”. Objectionable photographs were also taken and both the accused continuously threatened the girl.

Due to fear of disgrace, the victim kept tolerating their threats and physical abuse. Upon revelation, the matter was reported to the police on April 1, 2017. But attempts were made to hush up the case due to “surreptitious intent” of Budhlada City police station cops and senior police functionaries of Mansa under the political influence of the accused.

Failing in their duty, the police with a mala fide intention to defeat any move aimed at the initiation of action against the culprits marked an inquiry at the instance of the then Mansa SSP. It was entrusted to the Mansa’s then SP, thereby prolonging the matter and keeping the “vital crime in limbo”.