HC aghast at harassment of sexual abuse victim by cops

The High Court on Thursday directed the police to submit audio recordings and other details pertaining to an inquiry against police officer B P Prasad, facing charges of sexual abuse when he was serving in the RT Nagar police station in 2009.

Hearing a petition by Yeshaswini, a resident of RT Nagar, challenging her inclusion in the list of history-sheeters by the Basavanagudi women’s police station, Justice Venugopala Gowda directed the police to submit the details by the next date of hearing.

Yeshaswini had complained against Prasad to police higher-ups, that he sexually abused her on July 8, 2009. Later, she was booked as a history sheeter by the Basavanagudi women’s station inspector Chandrakala.

In her petition, Yeshaswini contended that she was harassed by Prasad and following a complaint against him to his top brass, his batchmate Chandrakala colluded with him to book her as a history-sheeter.

When the matter came up for hearing, the judge found that an earlier court order – by another HC judge to furnish the CD of the telephonic conversation between the petitioner and Prasad - was not complied with by the prosecution.

The bench directed the advocate to read out the content of the telephonic conversation. Hearing the same, the court said, “Can you call this civilised behaviour by a person in uniform? The lady is literate and is capable of defending herself. What about poor and normal people?” the judge said.

When he was told that it was a woman officer who colluded with her batchmate, the judge said, “This is shocking. The honour of a woman has touched rock bottom.” The court then directed that the CD be furnished by the next hearing.