Neha case: Father-in-law transferred from Gurgaon

GURGAON - The father-in-law of Neha Chikkara, who is believed to have jumped overboard from a cruise ship in the Bahamas Dec 31 following alleged dowry harassment, was transferred from his government post here Sunday, two weeks after a dowry death case was lodged against him.

S.S. Dalal, posted here as chief medical officer in Gurgaon, has been transferred to Karnal. He had gone on leave after the dowry allegation was made and sources said that the government didnt want him to be posted in Gurgaon after the case was lodged against him.

“He (Dalal) has been transferred to Karnal,” Gurgaon Deputy Commissioner Rajendra Kataria said.

The Haryana government Jan 11 ordered that the Vigilance Department would take over the investigation but it is yet to initiate any action. “We havent got the file yet,” Inspector General (Vigilance) Manjeet Singh Ahlawat said.

On the other hand, Gurgaon police claimed that they are well capable of conducting the investigation but the government had transferred the case to the Vigilance Department.

“We are doing the investigation as the Vigilance Department hasnt take over the case. But we need some evidence to establish the case so we have written a letter to ministry of external affairs to seek the report of investigation done by US authorities in the case,” Gurgaon Police Commissioner S.S. Deswal said.

Neha’s parents have demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry in the case, contending Dalal is highly influential person and Gurgaon police are not investigating the matter seriously.

The victim’s family members alleged that Neha’s husband and in-laws used to harass her over dowry and 30 minutes before she died, she wrote an e-mail to her brother saying she didn’t have the courage to bear the torture over and over again.

Neha’s family members filed a complaint at the Sector 18 police station Jan 2 and after consulting legal experts, Gurgaon police filed a first information report the next day.

According to the family members, the US Coast Guard said crew members aboard the Royal Caribbeans Monarch of the Seas reported Neha missing since Dec 31 afternoon. Security camera footage showed the 23-year-old woman going overboard from the 11th deck early that morning. Bahamian government officials reviewed the footage and determined that the woman had jumped overboard.