Delay in filing FIR over minor’s rape complaint in Pune: Supreme Court admits appeal against police officer

The victim girl then went to the police station, which was then under the rural police (now in Pune city police jurisdiction) for lodging the gang rape complaint. But two officers of the rank of senior police inspector and assistant police inspector at the police station had sent her back home twice—on February 26 and February 28, 2013—and refused to file a complaint saying that she should bring her parents to the police station. The girl had alleged that the accused took advantage of the delay in lodging the FIR and escaped.

The then superintendent of rural police had ordered an inquiry into this matter. The inquiry conducted by a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) found the two officers guilty. The inquiry report was submitted to the special court in Pune where a case under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, was filed.

Meanwhile, the two police officers approached the Bombay High Court. The assistant police inspector was held guilty, but the senior police inspector was let off by the HC bench which observed there was no evidence of negligence against him.

Sakhi, the NGO challenged the HC order in the SC in 2016 through lawyer Makarand Adkar. The SC admitted the NGO’s appeal and issued a notice to the senior police inspector, who later retired from service. He had filed an affidavit before the SC denying the allegations against him.