A special Pocso court in Ghaziabad has directed the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against a Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) constable accused of repeatedly raping a woman since she was 15 years old. The court's order came after the police allegedly refused to act on her complaints despite multiple approaches.
Court Order and Investigation
Additional Sessions Judge Neeraj Gautam, while allowing a criminal miscellaneous application under Section 174(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), instructed the Station House Officer (SHO) of Tila More police station to register a case based on the complainant's statements. The judge also directed that the investigation be conducted according to established rules, with a report to be submitted to the court.
Woman's Allegations
In her application, the woman alleged that the accused, a neighbour, first assaulted her when she was 15, dragging her to a ruined hutment and threatening to kill her brother if she disclosed the incident. The abuse continued over subsequent years, with the accused using fear and false promises of marriage to silence her.
In 2019, the woman claimed that the PAC official took possession of her high school and intermediate certificates under the pretext of helping her secure a job, promising marriage thereafter. On October 27, 2023, she alleged that he took her from her home on the same pretext but instead kept her in a rented room in Chhapraula. By then, the accused was employed with the PAC and continued to refuse marriage while withholding her certificates.
Police Inaction
The woman reported that she approached Tila More police station on December 10 last year, but her complaint was refused. A subsequent application to the Ghaziabad police commissioner on December 19 also yielded no action. She further alleged that police pressured her for a compromise, possibly due to the accused's position in the constabulary.
With all avenues exhausted, the woman approached the court in February this year. The court sought a report from Tila More police station and, upon confirming that no case had been registered, found prima facie grounds for a cognizable offence. The complainant submitted an affidavit, copies of applications to senior police officials, and postal receipts in support of her petition.
Court's Ruling
“The statements in the application indicate that a prima facie cognizable offence has been committed against the applicant. Therefore, considering all the facts and circumstances, it is justified to have the police investigate,” the court ruled.
