Inconsistencies a stumbling block to investigations: Cops

Meanwhile,Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said,“It is a manufactured story. It is an attempt to malign the government.”

The police officer also said the clothes that she was wearing on the day of the incident could have been retrieved for a forensic check. “Even if it was washed,it wouldn’t have mattered because it is done through a ray detection and internal check-up for a lady of her age and especially when the accused was confirmed of using protection,would not be of much help,” he said. Besides,valuable time was lost between the time the woman reported the incident to the police and the medical examination. The Calcutta Medical College authorities on Thursday categorically denied the police version that there was no doctor to perform the test on February 11 when the woman was taken to the hospital. There were as many as 15 doctors,said Utpal Dutta,principal of the Medical College.

“The medical report on the victim confirmed that bruise marks have been found on her knee,neck,lips and other parts. But the examination could not confirm that there had been any sexual intercourse. We have asked for a confirmation whether there were signs of any sexual violence on her,” said Damyanti Sen,joint commissioner (crime).

Meanwhile,Farooque Halim,son of former speaker of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly,Hashim Abdul Halim was called for an interrogation on Wednesday night. Sources close to the family confirmed that the 37-year-old victim had called Farooque on the night of the incident and asked for help. Being an old friend,he went to Exide — the spot where she was lying on the road after being allegedly dumped by her assailants — and advised her to lofge a police complaint. Police,however,found discrepancies. “She had come to Farooque’s Kyd Street residence and from there he went along with her to her place,” said Sen and added that Farooque had also put in Rs 1.5 lakh in a call centre run by the victim’s aunt earlier,indicating a close relation between the two.

The inconsistencies in the victim’s statement have posed to be a major stumbling block to the police investigation.

“While the victim confidently says Luvi Gidwani was the one whom she met at the nightclub on February 4,it has been established that Gidwani was in Canada since January 1,2012. The others too,have perfect alibis. While we agree that something must have happened that night,some of the things need to fall in place for the picture to be clear,” said Jawed Shamim,joint commissioner (HQ).

RK Parchnanda,the Comissioner of Kolkata Police,later talking to the media said that the police wer committed to an “impartial investigtion” and unearthing the truth.