Double check in ‘molest’ case

Patna: The Mahila (women) police station that lodged an FIR against BJP MLC Awadesh Narayan Singh’s two sons for allegedly harrassing a woman sexually, has sought a clarification from her based on which action will be taken.

The police station has asked the woman to record her statement afresh, as there are several discrepancies in the written statement provided by the 24-year-old woman who used to work as a cabin crew member with a private airline.

Patna senior superintendent of police (SSP) Manu Maharaaj has asked Sachivalaya police station deputy superintendent of police (DSP) to monitor the case. “As the case pertains to a VIP, the police are taking extra precautions before taking any action,” a police officer at Sachivalya police station said on condition of anonymity. “We’ve asked the woman to record her statement afresh in the presence of police officials, as there are several discrepancies in her written statement,” Mahila police station house officer (SHO) Biva Kumari said. She claimed she called the woman on Sunday night and asked her to come down to the police station to record her statement, but she has not said when she will come.

According to the SHO, the woman had sought time to record her statement, as she has joined a new airline and is busy with her work.

On Saturday evening, a person had approached the police station on behalf of the woman with a written application. Based on her written statement, the police lodged a case against the MLC’s two sons under Section 354 (B) of Indian Penal Code (IPC). According to the SHO, action will be taken against the accused once the woman records her statement afresh.

According to police sources the woman knew the brothers for the past six months and before the day of the alleged incident (Friday), she had visited their place twice, during Holi and another time a few days after Holi.

On the day of the alleged incident, the woman mentioned in her compliant that she had gone to the MLC’s house on 2 Circular Road after Sushant said he wanted to clear some misgivings between them. After some time, the MLC’s other son, Prashant, came and an argument broke out during which he misbehaved with her. The brothers allegedly locked her inside the room. The SHO said: “The woman has given statements about the incident but it is not clear how she managed to escape from the house. We want to clear all such doubts.”

Singh’s sons Sushant Ranjan and Prashant Ranjan run the Cox & Kings travel agency franchise in Patna.

Police sources said the woman knew the brothers because of their travel business, and that MLC Singh and his wife had gone to Delhi on May 16.

Courtesy: The Telegraph