March 26, 2009 11:24:20 pm
Irked by the laxity on the part of the Delhi Police in ensuring a smooth trial in a rape case,a city court has summoned the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) to appear before it on Thursday and furnish reasons for the lapses.
Additional Sessions Judge A K Kuhar sought the presence of the DCP on March 26 after noting that the police officers non-responsive attitude was hindering the trial proceedings in the case.
The present case is under the sections pertaining to rape and trespassing under the Indian Penal Code. These are serious offences,but there is no cooperation from the investigating side in the cases progress, the court noted in its order on Tuesday. ASJ Kuhar also observed that after filing the chargesheet,the investigating officer (IO) failed to show interest in the proceedings,forcing the court to send them frequent requests.
The case concerned one Ajay Sharma,accused of allegedly trespassing the victims house in Amar Colony in January 2007 and raping her. The police filed the chargesheet in time but the trial got delayed reportedly owing to the non-cooperation of the police.
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At the last hearing,the IO,sub-inspector Bir Singh,told the judge that the victim and another witness had gone to Nepal and he would need time to serve them summons so that they could return and record their statements. The officer had also sought permission from the DCP (Traffic),under whom he was now posted,to serve the summons.
On Tuesday,the IO,however remained absent from court.
It appears that no action has been taken either by the DCP (Southeast) or by the DCP (Traffic). It is also not apparent whether DCP (Southeast) has been apprised of this courts previous order. I,therefore,deem it appropriate that the officer be asked to appear in person, the court said.
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