Criminal liability against police officer in Pipili rape case

Filing an affidavit, crime branch DSP Ramesh Chandra Sethy said that inspector Amulya Kumar Champatiray, who was officiating as inspector-in-charge of Pipili police station in Puri district at the time of the incident, had willfully neglected an offence committed against a scheduled caste girl.

Due to negligent act of the police inspector, prompt police action and consequent medical treatment could not be provided to the girl, the affidavit said.

"Hence criminal liability against Champatiray is prima facie well made out to submit charge sheet against him under section 4 of SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act," it said, adding charge sheet against him would be filed in the next few days.

With regard to criminal liability against certain doctors in the case, the crime branch police maintained that they received two separate reports from the health department and a medical board headed by State Director of Medical Education and Training.

Since there were certain differences in the conclusion reached in reports regarding liability of doctors, a query has been made to DMET lest the doctors could take advantage of it in future, the affidavit said.

"The clarifications are awaited and therefore to ascertain the specific criminal liability of the individual doctors of Pipili hospital, Capital hospital and SCB medical college and hospital, investigation of the case has been kept open," the affidavit said.

As soon as the clarifications were obtained, the investigating police officer would file charge sheet against the doctors.

Four persons have been been arrested for the rape and murder bid of the girl.