‘Whisked away at 3am, not allowed to don veil’: Woman narrates ordeal

DCP Central Sanjay Sain has denied all the allegations and said they are baseless. As per records in the Central district, the woman has not been named in any criminal case.

The woman told The Indian Express: “I was sleeping and woke up because of all the noise. I saw 10-15 policemen flashing lights at my door…They barged into my home and told me they were looking for my two brothers.” She said, “I told them that my brothers had left the house a few days back…They hurled slurs at me…They then asked me to come to the police station.”

She further alleged that the policemen forced her out of her house around 3.30 am. When she begged them to allow her to wear a burqa, they scolded her, she said. “I don’t leave my house without a veil. I was dragged and taken to Chandni Mahal police station… they kept asking me about my brothers,” she said.

The woman said she was detained for over 13 hours and no woman officer came to see her.

As per the woman’s counsel, advocate M Sufian Siddiqui, they sent a formal complaint to the Commissioner of Delhi Police on November 11. On receiving no reply, the team again sent a “reminder” to the commissioner on November 16 following which they moved court. “All this transpired during the night, violating section 46(4) of the Cr. P.C which explicitly prohibits the arrest of a woman before sunrise and after sunset…” said Siddiqui.

Sources in the police confirmed that the woman was detained for 13 hours since her brothers were involved in an assault case and police suspected she was helping them hide.

DCP Sain said, “The court has asked us to file a report which we will. The (woman’s) family has four brothers who are all criminals and absconding. We conducted an enquiry as per procedure…” However, records show her brothers were not hardened criminals or history sheeters, and were involved in a fight with neighbours.