A day after a new investigative officer took over the case of the French Consulate official Pascal Mazurier, accused of raping his three-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Home Minister R. Ashok told the media here on Saturday that he did not know about the change.
Asked about the letter written by Suja Jones Mazurier, the mother of the alleged rape victim, alleging harassment by police officials during interrogation, he said: “I have not got any complaint from her. If she has complained, we will look into it. She is an Indian and is trying to seek help from the Centre and the State. We will have to be careful as it also involved the French government.” Investigation is on, and “all aspects are being looked into”.
Meanwhile, Nina Nayak, Chairperson, Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, calling for greater sensitivity on the part of the police, said National Commission for Women should also look into the case. She also sought to know why the French Embassy had not got back to her on her letter regarding safeguarding Ms. Mazurier’s financial security.
Reacting to these statements, Ms. Mazurier’s lawyer Asha N. Basu said they look forward to a fair and unbiased inquiry to take place soon.
“It is a long process; a lot of families are looking at this particular case closely. As conviction in such matters is rare, people fear harassment once such a complaint is made,” she said.
