Police pulled up for filing charges in rape case after 6 years
By IANSFriday, February 4, 2011
NEW DELHI - The Delhi High Court Friday came down heavily on Delhi Police for filing a charge-sheet after six years against a person who in 2001, when he was a juvenile, allegedly eloped with his minor neighbour and raped her.
Justice Shiv Narain Dhingra said: “I consider that the prosecution owes an explanation as to why the challan was not filed for such a long period despite the fact that the girl was available and the entire investigation was to centre around her.”
The judge asked the deputy commissioner of police, the station house officer and the investigating officer concerned to file their responses, within 15 days, as to why the probe report was not filed within a period of 60 or 90 days after lodging the FIR in the case.
The court was Friday informed that accused Babu Lal was a minor at the time of registration of the case at the Model Town police station.
After six years, police filed the chargesheet and started looking for the accused who was declared proclaimed offender after he failed to appear before the trial court.
“The girl, also a minor, had allegedly eloped with the accused in November 2001 and was raped several times,” states the charge sheet.
Later, Babu Lal approached the high mourt for grant of anticipatory bail.
Police have asked not to arrest him before March 18, the date of the next hearing in the case.
