HC directs Varanasi SSP to file affidavit in blackmailing case

Allahabad: The Allahabad High Court on Monday directed SSP Varanasi to file his personal affidavit, within two weeks, in a case of alleged blackmailing of a girl student of nursing course by police officers posted in Varanasi.

The Bench comprising Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice VK Singh passed the above order in a petition filed by a nursing student.

The girl demanded for CBCID probe and to protect her from atrocities of police officers who are allegedly blackmailing her.

As stated in petition, victim is a poor farmer's daughter. She moved from her village from Ballia to Varanasi after completing Class 12 studies to pursue nursing course from a private institution.

She started living in a rented accommodation of one co-accused Rajesh Kumar of Pandeypur, Varanasi. It is alleged that on June 17, 2016, Rajesh Kumar at night at around 10 pm, tried to outrage her modesty, information of which was given to the co-accused Sub Inspector (SI), Vinod Singh.

Vinod Singh, however, instead of registering the FIR colluded with Rajesh and let him off and later, on June 30, 2016 he registered an FIR in an extortion case against the petitioner at Cantt police station of Varanasi.

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It is alleged by the petitioner student that after registering of this FIR, SI Vinod Singh along with Inspector KP Singh (then posted as SI at Cantt police station) started blackmailing the petitioner under the garb of the FIR.

It is also alleged by the petitioner that Inspector KP Singh who is presently posted as Inspector of Police Station Lanka, Varanasi started sending abusive and obscene WhatsApp messages to the petitioner and used to call the petitioner in night and used to threaten her that she will be arrested unless she enters into a physical relation with him and SI Vinod Singh.

The girl fed up with blackmailing of police officers made a complaint to the SSP, Varanasi and her FIR was registered on August 23, 2016.

Advocate Bhuwan Raj, appearing for the victim girl argued that not much progress was made in the investigation of her complaint against police officers, while in extortion case, police had filed a charge sheet against the girl in January 11, 2017, only. Since, accused persons are police officers and till date nothing effective has happened in the investigation in the above case. Hence, investigation of this case must be transferred to CBCID to insure fair investigation of the case.

The Court after hearing concerned parties directed to list this case for hearing after two weeks.