Accused, 'erring' SI booked in Mathura minor molest case

A POCSO court judge has ordered SHO of Highway police station to file an FIR against an 'erring' sub-inspector and the accused in a child molestation case here, an assistant government council said Monday.

"POCSO court judge Justice Vivekanand Sharan Tripathi has ordered Highway police station SHO to lodge FIR against accused Pappu tailor, resident of Bhagawati Nagar Colony and sub-inspector Amresh Kumar for not registering the FIR of sexual assault against a minor, said assistant district government council Praveen Kumar Singh.

Narrating the sequence of events, the ADGC said, "On August 9, 2018, thirteen-year-old daughter of Pappu Chaudhary was molested by Pappu tailor in the colony, when the victim's parents had gone to work outside."

Following cries of the victim, neighbours rushed to the spot but the accused managed to flee, he said.

 

The worst part of the incident was the police inaction in the matter. Instead of registering an FIR, sub-inspector on duty Amresh Kumar tried to hush up the case by telling the complainant that he would enquire the matter first, the ADGC said.

After enquiring, sub-inspector Kumar tried to strike a compromise between the victim's father and Rajesh Chaudhary, the accused's brother, he said.

Kumar Singh said the FIR was not registered, even though a registered letter was sent to the district police chief.

When the minor's father approached the POSCO court for relief under section 156 of CrPC, judge Tripathi took exception to the conduct of SI Amresh Kumar. As per guidelines of the apex court, it is obligatory for police to registered FIR if a minor has been subjected to sexual assault, he stated.

The judge ordered SHO Highway to register FIR against Pappu tailor under POCSO Act and relevant sections of IPC.

The judge has also ordered SHO Highway to register FIR against sub-inspector Amresh Kumar under section 21 of POCSO Act and 166 (a) of IPC under the same crime number. The SHO has been ordered to furnish a compliance report on Sep 17, 2018, after taking statement of the complainant and victim under section 161/164 CrPC, Kumart Singh concluded.