HC Orders Investigation By DSP Rank Female Officer On Alleged Sexual Abuse Of A Girl
Patna, Feb 11 : Patna High Court on Friday ordered the Bihar government to depute a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) rank female officer for investigating the alleged sexual exploitation of a girl in Gaighat shelter home. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice S Kumar while hearing the case after taking suo motu cognisance of media reports about the alleged sexual exploitation of a girl in Gaighat shelter home-based in Patna, directed the Bihar government that the FIR registered on the written allegation of the victim girl, must be investigated by a female officer, not below the rank of DSP.
The Court also directed for filing of the progress report of the investigation after one week. The bench ordered Bihar State Legal Services Authority (BSLSA) to ensure that all legal aid could be provided to the victim notwithstanding the fact that the victim’s cause had been taken up by NGO or civil societies like Mahila Manch. Advocate General Prashant Kishore during the hearing informed the court that on Thursday the victim girl appeared before authorities and was thoroughly enquired.
On the basis of her allegations, an FIR had been registered at Mahila Police station. As it is, a girl who had escaped from Gaighat shelter home last year, alleged that she was sexually exploited there and those who committed the heinous crime were being given patronage by in-charge of the shelter home Bandna Gupta. She had also alleged that outsiders were allowed to enter in shelter home on the directive of Gupta and they used to sexually exploit the girls lodged there. On protests, Gupta used to threaten the girls with dire consequences.
