DCW notice to Bassi over non-filing of charge-sheet in rape case

DCW has issued a notice to Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi seeking to know why no charge-sheet has been filed by the force in connection with the rape of a four-year-old girl despite the passage of 90 days since the registration of the FIR in the case.

According to the notice issued by Delhi Commission for Women chairperson Swati Maliwal, the Rape Crisis Cell of the Commission has received a complaint in this regard.

The FIR in the rape case was lodged at Keshav Puram police station on October 9 last year, it said. “I have been informed that the charge-sheet in this case has not been filed despite the passage of 90 days. This is a serious issue as the accused has an absolute right to bail if the charge sheet is not filed within the prescribed period of 90 days in view of proviso (a) to Section 167(2) of CrPC. “It should be noted that until proper and timely charge sheets are filed in rape cases, justice to victims will be denied,” Maliwal said. The Commission has also issued a notice to the Deputy Commissioner of Police concerned to ascertain the cause behind the delay in the submission of the charge sheet.

Maliwal, meanwhile, further said that the data received by the Commission in response to her earlier letter was “disturbing”.