High Court Expresses Concern Over Delay in FIR in Case Against Punjab SP

A woman has levelled serious allegations of rape against a Superintendent of Police (SP) rank officer of the Punjab Police and has approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking justice. In her petition, the woman alleged that the officer lured her on the pretext of offering help and later sexually assaulted her. She further claimed that when she resisted, the officer, despite being married, conducted a marriage ceremony with her at a temple. The petitioner also alleged that she became pregnant with the officer’s child and was subsequently forced to undergo two abortions. She stated that she had earlier submitted a complaint to the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in Moga, but no action was taken. Taking note of the matter, the High Court expressed displeasure over the delay in registering the complaint. The state government informed the court that an officer of Inspector General (IG) rank has been assigned to investigate the case. The court has directed that the investigation be completed and a report be submitted within three weeks. It further stated that appropriate action should be taken if the allegations are found to be true. In case the investigation report concludes otherwise, the petitioner must be duly informed. The court also instructed the investigating officer to ensure a fair and transparent probe. The woman further informed the court that she had initially filed a complaint on September 10, 2015, at the SSP office in Moga, accusing the officer of assault, rape, and forced abortions. She also alleged that the SP had amassed wealth through corrupt means. Despite seeking action, no steps were taken by the police, resulting in the matter remaining pending for nearly a decade. The case was heard on Thursday. Punjab’s Additional Advocate General, Kunwarbir Singh, accepted notice on behalf of the state and informed the court that the complaint had been received at the SSP office in Moga. He added that since the accused officer held the rank of SP, the case was referred to the Bureau of Investigation (BOI) for inquiry. The matter is currently under investigation by the IG of Faridkot Range. The state assured the court that the probe would be completed within three weeks.