File FIR against LIP chief, 6 others in ‘rape’ case: Ludhiana court

LUDHIANA: A Ludhiana court on Wednesday directed police to register a FIR against seven people, including Lok Insaf Party (LIP) chief and Atam Nagar MLA Simarjit Bains on an application filed by a woman alleging rape. The court adjourned the case to 15 July, awaiting the compliance report.
The court of additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Harsimranjit Singh, observed that in view of serious allegations levelled in the complaint/application, police should carry out a thorough investigation regarding commission of rape, sexual harassment, destruction of evidence and criminal intimidation.
The court observed, “SHO, Police Station division number 6 is directed to register a criminal case without any further delay, treating the complaint/application of the complainant as a first information report and investigate the same.”
‘Custodial investigation appears indispensable’
The court further stated that the custodial investigation of the accused appears to be indispensable for discovery of certain facts and for recovery of incriminating evidence. “This court is of the affirmed view that the nature of allegations is such that the complainant herself may not be in a position to collect and produce evidence before the court and interest of justice demand that the police should step in to assist the complainant… The footage of CCTV cameras installed by the police at various places nearby the scene of crime are required to be collected.…“The real cause of concern of this court is whether a miserable and poor victim of sexual exploitation be expected to get justice by lodging the private complaint and collecting evidence from a place alien to her and against the perpetrators who are mighty, powerful and resourceful. In case, directions for registration of case and investigation is not made, the entire case of the complainant would crumble and it would tantamount to failure of justice,” the court observed.
Last year, the woman had accused LIP chief of allegedly raping her and threatening to kill both her sons if she complained against him. She had also accused the MLA’s brother, Karamjit Bains, a realtor and a woman worker of LIP, of helping him.
In the application filed before the court, she had named seven persons, including the LIP chief and sought registration of FIR against the accused for rape, sexual harassment, criminal intimidation, criminal conspiracy and other sections against them.
(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme court directives on cases related to sexual assault)