Twitter
Advertisement

Esther Anuhya's case: Bombay high court seeks details of action against cops who failed to lodge missing complaint

Latest News
article-main
FacebookTwitterWhatsappLinkedin

Expressing shock at the alarming increase in the rate of crime against women, the Bombay high court has sought details of action taken against police officers who failed to lodge complaints of missing persons.

A division bench of justices VM Kanade and Anuja Prabhudessai rapped the Maharashtra government for failing to act in implementing enough security measures and directed the Director General of Police (DGP) to compile and provide a list of crimes against women and steps taken by police to trace missing persons.

The HC was hearing a petition filed by advocate and activist Abha Singh seeking probe by the state Crime Investigation Department (CID) into the "gross inaction" by police officers, who failed to act on the missing complaint filed by the family of techie Esther Anuhya.

During the arguments, Singh pointed out a news report which said that four girls go missing everyday. To this, justice Kanade remarked: "If four people are missing in one day, then it is alarming. It shows you are not doing anything. The situation is getting worse."

Justice Kanade remarked that even before this, they have passed orders for better security but it seems that the orders were not being implemented. "If four people are missing in a day then it shows that you are not doing anything. Repeatedly, we have given directions in various petitions but it doesn't show any effect on the ground level."

The HC has asked the government to compile a list of orders passed earlier and submit a compliance report.

Singh argued that the amendment in the section 156A of the Indian Penal Code should be made applicable and a police officer who does not lodge a missing complaint in time should be held accountable. Likewise, if CCTVs at railway premises are found to be non-functional then the railway officer concerned should be held accountable.

Public prosecutor Sandeep Shinde informed the HC that they have filed an affidavit stating that within 24 hours of a missing complaint being filed the police officers try to trace the person.

The HC has sought details of action taken against police officers who did not lodge offence on time in Anuhya's case.

On December 24, 2013, Esther, who was working as an employee of TCS Mumbai, went to Macchilipatanam for Christmas vacation with her parents. She returned to Mumbai on January 5 night and took an auto rickshaw from the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus in suburban Mumbai but never reached home.

Esther's brother and father came to Mumbai to lodge a missing complaint when they did not hear from Esther. They first went to MIDC police then to Kurla railway police. However, the police officials at both the places turned them away without taking down complaint.

"Only after Esther's father approached the Vijayawada police in Andhra Pradesh and the police there sent a letter to the Kurla railway police, a missing complaint was lodged on January 8. Esther went missing on January 5. For three days the police did nothing," Abha argued.

Esther's decomposed body was found on January 16 in suburban Kanjurmarg. The police arrested one Chandrabhan Sanap for the murder of Esther.

Find your daily dose of news & explainers in your WhatsApp. Stay updated, Stay informed-  Follow DNA on WhatsApp.
Advertisement

Live tv

Advertisement
Advertisement