News Analysis India

Tag: Molestation

  • Brij Bhushan sexually harassed, molested, and stalked wrestlers, says Delhi police chargesheet

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP MP, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh is “liable to be prosecuted and punished for offences” of sexual harassment, molestation and stalking, as per the Delhi Police chargesheet filed before a city court, following the alleged sexual harassment case moved by six female grapplers. In Singh’s case, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Harjeet Singh Jaspal had earlier taken cognisance of the offences committed under Sections 354 (outraging modesty), 354A (sexually coloured remarks) and 354D (stalking), 506 (para 1) (criminal intimidation) and 109 (abetment to offense) of the Indian Penal Code.

    As per the court summons, the WFI chief has to appear before the court on July 18, 2.30 PM for further proceedings.

    Co-accused Vinod Tomar, the suspended assistant secretary of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) was also asked by the court to be present in connection with the case.

    “Having heard the submissions and having carefully considered the police report, along with its annexed documents, including the statements of the victims recorded… the other oral and documentary evidence, etc., this Court takes cognizance for the offences committed, under aforementioned Sections of IPC,” the order said in the order.

    ALSO READ: Wrestlers who accused Brij Bhushan of sexual harassment seek copy of charge sheet against him

    The court had noted that “it is settled law that at this stage, the Magistrate Court taking cognizance is primarily concerned with the allegations made in the police report and the evidence, offered to be lead in support thereof. It is not the province of the Magistrate to enter into a detailed discussion on merits/de-merits of the matter. Appreciation is permissible only to the extent of justification of issue of process,” it read.

    Notably, the Delhi High Court on July 7, allowed a minor wrestler to withdraw her plea relating to the hearing of a sexual harassment case against Singh, a six-time MP, by a competent court. The issue arose as the cases related to sexual offences against minors have to be heard by a special court set up under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

    The FIRs narrate several alleged instances of sexual harassment like inappropriate touching, groping, stalking and intimidation by Singh at different times and places over a decade.

    The politician has been questioned by the police twice so far, and on both occasions, he denied all the allegations against him and claimed he was being “framed”.

    READ MORE HERE:

    “We will participate in Asian Games only when all our issues will be resolved”: Sakshi Malik

    We did not ask for exemption from trials, will quit wrestling if proved: Bajrang Punia

    ‘Yogeshwar leaked the names of women complainants to Brij Bhushan and the media’: Vinesh Phogat

    ‘Two BJP leaders helped wrestlers stir’, discloses Sakshi Malik

    NEW DELHI: Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP MP, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh is “liable to be prosecuted and punished for offences” of sexual harassment, molestation and stalking, as per the Delhi Police chargesheet filed before a city court, following the alleged sexual harassment case moved by six female grapplers.
     
    In Singh’s case, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Harjeet Singh Jaspal had earlier taken cognisance of the offences committed under Sections 354 (outraging modesty), 354A (sexually coloured remarks) and 354D (stalking), 506 (para 1) (criminal intimidation) and 109 (abetment to offense) of the Indian Penal Code.

    As per the court summons, the WFI chief has to appear before the court on July 18, 2.30 PM for further proceedings.

    Co-accused Vinod Tomar, the suspended assistant secretary of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) was also asked by the court to be present in connection with the case.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “Having heard the submissions and having carefully considered the police report, along with its annexed documents, including the statements of the victims recorded… the other oral and documentary evidence, etc., this Court takes cognizance for the offences committed, under aforementioned Sections of IPC,” the order said in the order.

    ALSO READ: Wrestlers who accused Brij Bhushan of sexual harassment seek copy of charge sheet against him

    The court had noted that “it is settled law that at this stage, the Magistrate Court taking cognizance is primarily concerned with the allegations made in the police report and the evidence, offered to be lead in support thereof. It is not the province of the Magistrate to enter into a detailed discussion on merits/de-merits of the matter. Appreciation is permissible only to the extent of justification of issue of process,” it read.

    Notably, the Delhi High Court on July 7, allowed a minor wrestler to withdraw her plea relating to the hearing of a sexual harassment case against Singh, a six-time MP, by a competent court. The issue arose as the cases related to sexual offences against minors have to be heard by a special court set up under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

    The FIRs narrate several alleged instances of sexual harassment like inappropriate touching, groping, stalking and intimidation by Singh at different times and places over a decade.

    The politician has been questioned by the police twice so far, and on both occasions, he denied all the allegations against him and claimed he was being “framed”.

    READ MORE HERE:

    “We will participate in Asian Games only when all our issues will be resolved”: Sakshi Malik

    We did not ask for exemption from trials, will quit wrestling if proved: Bajrang Punia

    ‘Yogeshwar leaked the names of women complainants to Brij Bhushan and the media’: Vinesh Phogat

    ‘Two BJP leaders helped wrestlers stir’, discloses Sakshi Malik

  • Girl molested, her family lynches 32-year-old accused in Faridabad

    By PTI

    FARIDABAD: A 32-year-old man was beaten to death by the family of a girl whom he allegedly molested in Deha colony here, police said on Wednesday. The deceased was identified as Mohit Yadav, they said.

    The incident occurred at around 11.50 pm on Wednesday, they said.

    Yadav and his friend Naveen were sitting in a car when around 10 members of the girl’s family attacked them with an iron rod, sticks and axe.

    Yadav, who was wanted in a murder case that took place in Kheripul area in April, had allegedly molested a girl along with Naveen, they said.

    According to the police, other women in the girl’s family were also allegedly harassed by the accused.

    The police said they arrested Mukesh, his brother-in-law Ajay alias Amit and his son Karan, all residents of Riwajpur village near Deha village, in connection with the matter.

    Yadav’s wife Deepika in her complaint alleged when she along with her brother-in-law Bharat reached the spot she saw the accused thrashing Yadav and Naveen, they said.

    They rushed the duo to a hospital where the doctors declared Yadav dead while Naveen is undergoing treatment, the police said.

    An FIR has been registered against more than ten accused under sections 302 (murder), 148 (riots), 149 (unlawful assembly), 323 (causing hurt), and 427 (causing damage) of the Indian Penal Code at Bhupani police station, they said.

    Inspector Rajiv Kumar, head of the crime unit (DLF, Faridabad) said, “We are questioning the accused and are conducting raids to nab another. The deceased was also wanted in a murder case. The further probe is underway.”

    FARIDABAD: A 32-year-old man was beaten to death by the family of a girl whom he allegedly molested in Deha colony here, police said on Wednesday. The deceased was identified as Mohit Yadav, they said.

    The incident occurred at around 11.50 pm on Wednesday, they said.

    Yadav and his friend Naveen were sitting in a car when around 10 members of the girl’s family attacked them with an iron rod, sticks and axe.

    Yadav, who was wanted in a murder case that took place in Kheripul area in April, had allegedly molested a girl along with Naveen, they said.

    According to the police, other women in the girl’s family were also allegedly harassed by the accused.

    The police said they arrested Mukesh, his brother-in-law Ajay alias Amit and his son Karan, all residents of Riwajpur village near Deha village, in connection with the matter.

    Yadav’s wife Deepika in her complaint alleged when she along with her brother-in-law Bharat reached the spot she saw the accused thrashing Yadav and Naveen, they said.

    They rushed the duo to a hospital where the doctors declared Yadav dead while Naveen is undergoing treatment, the police said.

    An FIR has been registered against more than ten accused under sections 302 (murder), 148 (riots), 149 (unlawful assembly), 323 (causing hurt), and 427 (causing damage) of the Indian Penal Code at Bhupani police station, they said.

    Inspector Rajiv Kumar, head of the crime unit (DLF, Faridabad) said, “We are questioning the accused and are conducting raids to nab another. The deceased was also wanted in a murder case. The further probe is underway.”

  • Bilaspur police’ diligent hearing of vulnerable victims of rape, molestation yields effective results 

    Express News Service

    RAIPUR: Bilaspur police in Chhattisgarh have started a novel practice with a focus on attentive hearing to the intimidated victims of rape, molestation or domestic violence, as they claimed vulnerable to repeated threats after the FIR was lodged. The women sufferers securing police empathy perceptibly got much-needed relief as they candidly narrated their worries and situations fraught with peril.   

    Within a month of executing the new move, as many as 181 accused in the reported crimes against women have been arrested in Bilaspur. Even the actions taken against police officers allegedly found colluding with the accused.

    It is often found that the women victims who filed the cases against offenders to seek justice are being frightened, humiliated, attacked or mentally harassed by the accused or their accomplice to remain silent and are pressurised to withdraw the case. Some victims tormented by shame become easy targets for hostile conduct by the perpetrators.

    Bilaspur Range Inspector General of Police Ratan Lal Dangi pioneered the innovative mechanism covering the six districts of his jurisdiction for a periodic review of the cases of rape, molestation or domestic violence with the police officers. And during the meeting, the women victims are given a patient hearing, their pressing issues discussed to alleviate the distress with an assurance on safeguard and speedy justice.

    Ahead of such meetings, the details of the registered cases on the crimes against women in the police stations in the Bilaspur range were gathered. The victims are either called at the range headquarters or asked to virtually attend the meeting, which is chaired by the IG in the presence of police officers posted in areas where the women victims visit to speak out their unpleasant experiences.

    While narrating their ordeal, many women were seen in tears pleading for the police intervention.  

    The IG simultaneously cross-examined the claims of the women with the investigating officer of the victim’s area besides the progress of the inquiry and the culprits.

    “Meeting the IG and other police officers raised our morale and trust on law enforcing agencies. We were given full liberty to express our concern”, said Bobby (name changed) who was sexually abused in a private office and later repeatedly intimidated by the accused to take back the police complaint.

    The victims are called one at a time to recount their depressing episodes in the meeting.

    “We decided to call the victims who feel unguarded and threatened for their well-being. There shouldn’t be any lack of action from the police that should make the women feel insecure,” said Dangi.

    The novel initiative, which began a month ago, has apparently alleviated persisting fear and panic among the victims who seem confident to get support from the police.

  • Woman journalist molested in south Kolkata, her friend assaulted

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: A woman journalist was allegedly molested and her friend assaulted by the driver of an app-based cab in south Kolkata’s Behala, police said on Saturday.

    The woman, who works at TV news channel, was returning home from her office in Salt Lake Sector 5 with the friend on a scooter when the incident happened at Satyen Roy Road-James Long Road crossing, they said.

    The cab driver was arrested after she lodged a complaint at the Behala police station, they added.

    The woman alleged that the cab driver was driving recklessly and tried to hit her scooter several times to push her off the road on Thursday night, besides trying to block her way, a police officer said.

    “At the Satyen Roy Road-James Long Road crossing, the woman journalist stopped her scooter and protested,” he said.

    It was at that point of time, the cab driver allegedly assaulted and molested the woman, besides manhandling her friend, the officer added.

    “We arrested the cab driver after the woman provided a photograph of the vehicle. She managed to take the photo when the driver tried to escape,” he said.

  • Martial arts trained woman catches molester in Assam, hands him over to police

    By PTI
    GUWAHATI: A woman has drawn applause for her bravery and presence of mind as she caught a man who allegedly molested her on the pretext of asking direction for a place, and handed him over to the police in Guwahati.

    The police on Saturday said that the incident took place in Rukmini Nagar locality under Dispur police station in the city and the accused was arrested.

    A video of the woman, who is trained in martial arts, accosting the accused and forcing him to reveal his name and face before the camera has been widely circulated on social media since Friday evening.

    She alleged that she was stopped by the accused, who was on a scooter, and asked her for directions of a place on Friday.

    When the woman who is in her 20s said she was not aware of the location, he allegedly came further closer to the girl, pretending not to hear her, and suddenly touched her inappropriately.

    “I was taken aback initially but after a brief moment, I reacted and caught hold of the back of his scooter as he tried to flee,” she said.

    She pushed the scooter into a drain on the side of the road and as a commotion was created, people gathered at the spot.

    “I have received training in martial arts for self-defence. It helped me in this situation,” she added.

    The woman informed the police who reached the spot and took the accused into custody.

    “The case will be brought to its logical conclusion & justice served. We are committed to the safety & security of our citizens,” Guwahati police tweeted.