DCW chief booked for naming Dalit rape victim, says not scared

The Delhi Police on Tuesday registered a case against Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal for allegedly revealing the identity of a 14-year-old Dalit rape victim. Maliwal responded by saying she is a revolutionary and not scared of any FIR.

The victim, who was brutally raped in north Delhi's Burari, died on Sunday after being forced to drink a corrosive substance by her alleged abusers.

"We have filed a case against DCW chief Swati Maliwal for naming the Dalit rape victim," Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Aslam Khan told IANS.

The officer said that Maliwal has been booked under Section 228 A (disclosure of identity of victim of certain offences) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Reacting sharply to the FIR against her, Maliwal suggested the police were being vengeful. In a series of tweets she said: "DCW issues Notice to police station Burari for role in 14 year old girl's case and two days later Delhi Police registers baseless FIR against me. Vendetta?"

"I have taken blows for Nirbhaya and my every moment goes in ensuring that no more Nirbhayas happen in the society. I am a revolutionary and not scared of any FIR. Jai Hind," Maliwal said in a tweet.

"I will keep on raising more issues," she added.

Maliwal also clarified that she did not release the name of the victim but instead helped her.

"Firstly, not released name of victim. Instead ensured proper medical care in private hospital. Police arrested the accused only after DCW Notice," Maliwal tweeted.

"Also, why should rape victim hide her identity? Shouldn't rapists be hiding? Is it the shame of a victim that she was subjected to cruelty?" Maliwal asked in another tweet.

The Dalit girl was kidnapped by the accused before she was to testify against him in a local court for allegedly raping her. She was again repeatedly raped by the accused, and forced to drink a corrosive substance by his maternal aunt and uncle.

The substance damaged the girl's internal organs and she was admitted to a hospital.

Maliwal visited the girl on Friday night and subsequently issued notice to Burari police station chief Satbir Singh, seeking the reason for "not arresting the accused till date".

In the notice, Maliwal named the victim. The copy of the notice was also sent to Deputy Commissioner of Police Madhur Verma, citing the statement of the victim and her father before the DCW.

The DCW chief posed at least eight queries to the Delhi Police and gave the force 72 hours to reply to the notice.

The DCW is also conducting an inquiry into the "role of police, government hospital and Nari Niketan in the case".

A case under charges of kidnapping, rape and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act was registered at Burari police station against the accused Shiv Shankar on December 24, 2015.

The victim's parents informed the DCW on May 15 this year that the girl was again kidnapped from her house just before a hearing in the court.

The Burari police then registered another case on May 19. This time the girl was brutally raped, tortured and forced to drink a corrosive substance. She later died.

--IANS

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