Probe cop who didn't register rape complaint, Bombay High Court tells police

The Bombay high court recently directed the superintendent of Osmanabad police to consider registering an FIR against a retired police inspector who did not register a rape complaint made against his colleague in 2007.

A division bench of Justice S S Shinde and Justice N W Sambre said, “The police are directed to examine the conduct of retired police inspector L M Wadje and if satisfied, issue appropriate directions at his level to the concerned officer to register an offence against him.”

The directions came during the hearing of a petition filed by a woman who said that she had approached the inspector in 2007 with her complaint seeking an FIR against sub-inspector Kishor Lawate for having repeatedly raped her. The delay was allegedly caused to protect the accused.

The woman’s complaint was registered only after an inquiry was conducted by the sub-divisional police officer. The petition requested that a departmental inquiry be conducted against Wadje and prosecution should be initiated against him.

The court was informed that a disciplinary inquiry against the alleged accused Lawate cannot be initiated. The same is the case for Wadje, as he has retired and the incident in question had occurred four years prior to his retirement.

The court said that the report of the sub-divisional police officer in clear terms reflects the misconduct of Wadje in the matter of registration of offence of rape against Lawate, as by not registering the offence immediately after receipt of complaint, Wadje had tried to shield him from the clutches of law. Thus the petitioner's plea for registration of offence against Wadje needs consideration.