The Cubbon Park police have failed to submit the final report in a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (Pocso) even a year after the registration of a criminal complaint against the management and board members of a reputable school in the City.
The parents of the victims had filed a complaint with Upalokayukta Justice Subhash Adi about police inaction in the case. The police had recorded the statement of one of the victims on the directions of Justice Adi. Since this complaint is also part of the allegations listed by the Congress MLAs in their petition seeking the removal of Justice Adi, the parents have now decided to move the High Court seeking directions to the police to file the final report.
The incident of physical abuse of a few students of the school had taken place on January 8, 2015. Around 300 girl students were staging a peaceful protest in the presence of the Cubbon Park police against the school management for transferring the principal on January 8. When the protest was going on, the school secretary, along with a few board members, physically abused the students.
Complaint withdrawn
The acting principal, who initially filed a complaint with the police, withdrew it owing to pressure. Later, an advocate, J Mary Susheela, filed another complaint and the Cubbon Park police registered the FIR on January 10, 2015, under Sections 8, 9, 9F of Pocso and Sections 504, 506, 354 and 34 of the IPC.
“The FIR on my complaint was registered in January 2015 and till February, the police took no action. They did not even recover the CCTV footage. In February 2015, the parents of five students filed the complaint with the Upalokayukta and on Justice Adi’s directions, the police took one of the victim’s statement on May 13, 2015. Within 15 days of this, the three main accused got anticipatory bail. The parents lost faith in the police and requested the Upalokayukta to direct the police to record the statement before the magistrate. Since Justice Adi is not taking up the case due to a petition against him pending before the Legislative Assembly Speaker, we have decided to move the High Court,” advocate Susheela said.
Final report not filed
The statement of the victim was recorded before the magistrate only on September 9, 2015. The police have collected the statement of 31 students who had taken part in the protest. However, the final report has not been filed till date.
Meanwhile, when the Congress MLAs petitioned the Speaker against Justice Adi, the Cubbon Park police wrote to the City Police Commissioner stating that the Upalokayukta was interfering in the investigation.
Speaking with Deccan Herald, DCP (Central) refused to provide details of the letter alleging interference in the investigation by the Upalokayukta. “I cannot comment on that (letter to the commissioner). The case is still under investigation,” he said.
Published 02 February 2016, 21:06 IST