Senior Mumbai Police officials on Tuesday said that an inquiry has been ordered into reports of the Malad police not invoking provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act in a suicide case despite post-mortem reports indicating sexual abuse.
The victim, a 17-year-old girl, who was working as a domestic help for a Goregaon resident, was found to have committed suicide in March this year.
‘Injuries to private parts’
The Malad police then registered an Accidental Death Report. The post-mortem examination reportedly stated that there were injuries to her private parts.
Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Vinoy Kumar Choubey said on Tuesday that the matter is being looked into.
“We have instructed Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone XI) to personally look into the matter and take necessary action,” Mr. Choubey said, adding that the inquiry will be complete at the earliest.
“We have contacted the doctor concerned from Bhagwati Hospital to seek some clarifications in the case. The doctor, however, is in Yavatmal currently and we will take further action as soon as we have the necessary clarifications from him,” an officer who is part of the investigation said
The police officers refuted allegations of a cover-up on their part and said that action in sensitive cases always needs to be taken with due consideration.