Investigation In Sexual Harassment & Assault Complaint Made In 2014 Pending Till Date: Delhi High Court Directs Appearance Of DCP

The Delhi High Court has sought personal appearance of a DCP of Delhi Police in an "unfortunate" case where the police has failed to take any steps to complete the investigation qua an FIR for sexual harassment registered in 2014.

Justice Subramonium Prasad, while directing the DCP to appear before the Court on Friday, expressed its displeasure for the second time in the matter. The State has now been directed to clarify the exact stage of investigation.

The Court was dealing with a petition filed by a woman seeking directions on the Delhi Police to protect her and her mother's life and liberty from the hands of the accused persons.

Pursuant to the order passed by the Court in September last year expressing its displeasure on Police's conduct, a status report was filed in November 2020 stating that the complainant lady was found in an injured condition.

In her statement, the lady alleged that she and her mother were beaten by some men and that she was hit on her legs with a spade.

She also alleged that one man had pressed her breast and pulled her towards his car and made an attempt to put her inside the car.

An FIR was then registered under Sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 341 (wrongful restraint), 506 (criminal intimidation), 509 (insult the modesty of any woman), 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment) r/w Section 34 of IPC.

"Today, SI Satyavir Singh from Police Station Ranhola appeared in Court and states that he is not the I.O. of the case. It is unfortunate that FIR was filed in the year 2014 and even the Police had not taken any step to ensure that the investigation is complete. DCP (Outer Delhi) is directed to appear on the next date of hearing to explain why the investigation has not yet been completed," the Court said.

The matter will again be taken up today.

Case Title: REETU RANI @ RITU THR. HER MOTHER ANITA v. STATE OF NCT OF DELHI & ORS

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