Click to play videoBangalore: The Koramangala police station in Bangalore is under the scanner. One of its constables is facing a rape complaint. The victim has alleged that constable C C Basavaraj raped her when she was detained in September for nine days.
Lawfully, the police should produce the detainee before a magistrate court within 24 hours of arrest. The State Human Rights Commission has now directed the police commissioner to probe the allegation and submit a report.
“If the allegation is found correct, it will shock the whole conscience of society. Whether true or not, only enquiry will reveal. But it's a serious matter that no one can brush aside,” says chairperson, State Human Rights Commission, Justice S R Nayak.
The police however are not buying the story.
“Probably it’s a concocted case. But an inquiry is being done,” says Joint Commissioner, Gopal B Hosur.
But Asha's is not an isolated case. In the last one month, Justice Nayak says at least three major cases of illegal detention have come to light.
“On complaints, we raided three polices stations. On all occasions, the fact remains that the date of arrest was not shown. Unless you show date, how can you get constitutional guarantee. In the Nandini layout case a police officer admitted he kept two ladies for eight days. Only three days, they were taken home remaining days they stayed in police station. It's atrocious,” says Justice Nayak.
And on Tuesday, Praveen Raj, a software engineer, alleged he was kept in police custody for two days illegally after his employer filed a complaint alleging theft.
“He said I had tried to sell codes to some new company without any proof. When I said I want to contact friends, he said he’d contact his head person. And only when he gives permission, he'll let me call. That permission never came,” says Praveen Raj.
As increasing allegations of illegal detention come to the fore, the question that's being asked is, who will police the police. Even as the city police chews over that, the State Human Rights Commission plans to look into alleged police encounters in Naxal affected areas next.
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