Sub-inspector suspended for multiple assaults and rape of woman in Uttarakhand

A sub-inspector has been suspended and a first information report (FIR) has been filed against him for allegedly assaulting and raping a woman in Uttarakhand’s Raipur city, a police official said

The Sub-Inspector was posted as Mayur Vihar Chowki in-charge of Raipur Police Station.

On May 29, a case was registered against the police officer at Rajpur police station under sections 323 (intentional causing hurt), 506 (criminal intimidation), 509 (word, gesture or act with intent to insult the modesty of a woman), 354-B (assault or criminal force on a woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 376 (rape) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

City police superintendent (SP) Pramod Kumar said, “The woman, a yoga instructor, claimed that she had lodged a complaint with Rajpur police station in February last year about theft at her house. Her complaint was converted into an FIR and the accused officer, who was then posted at Kuthal Gate Chowki of Rajpur police station, was entrusted with the investigation.”

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He said the woman had also accused him of taking her to Nainital in December last year on the pretext of appearing before the Supreme Court in her case and raping her in a hotel room there.

“The police officer has since been transferred as in-charge of Mayur Vihar Chowki under Raipur police station. She also accused him of taking her to a rented accommodation on Sahastradhara Road where he raped her multiple times. The woman alleged that he also intimidated her, misused his service weapon and physically assaulted her,” he said.

“Based on the complaint of the woman, we registered a case against the accused police officer under relevant sections of the IPC on Thursday. The accused sub-inspector has been suspended immediately. Our investigation in the matter is underway. We are probing the allegations made by the woman,” Kumar said.

Dehradun Police said in a statement, “The woman has filed a written complaint at Rajpur police station alleging that SI Manoj Bhatt committed indecent acts with her. Based on the complaint, an FIR under Section 323/506/509/354B/376 of IPC has been registered against SI Manoj Bhatt at Rajpur police station. In the said complaint, the complainant said that the incident took place on December 17, 2023, and alleged that the accused assaulted her and had violent intercourse with her at different places. Considering the crime related to women, the investigation in the said case is being carried out by a sub-division.

Inspector Bhavna. The supervision of the investigation will be taken up by Premnagar District Collector Reena Rathore. SI Manoj Bhatt has been suspended from SSP Dehradun with immediate effect,” the statement said.