The Pulakeshinagar police inspector, who was suspended for delaying the filing of a First Information Report (FIR) in the alleged rape of a 22-year-old postgraduate student, has told investigators that he was not aware of the new legislation dealing with rape.
Claiming that he had provided all necessary assistance to the victim, Mohammed Rafiq, in his defence, acknowledged that he was ignorant about the legal developments, it is learnt.
He was interrogated for over two hours after being arrested by the Ulsoor police for disobeying the law. A team of officials, led by Assistant Commissioner of Police (Ulsoor subdivision) G.B. Manjunath, questioned Rafiq, who has been booked under section 166 (A) of the Indian Penal Code. Rafiq surrendered before the Ulsoor police on Friday. He has been released on bail.
It is also learnt that Rafiq has claimed, before the investigations, that though he wanted to subject the victim to a medical examination, the victim did not cooperate.
He has claimed that the victim went home stating that she would come on Monday, sources said.
Rafiq is also the first officer to be booked under Section 166(A) after the Supreme Court’s direction in the Nirbhaya case, a senior police officer said.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Satish Kumar said: “We have followed the procedure by arresting Rafiq, and have questioned him as part of the inquiry initiated against him. He was let off on conditional bail since there is a provision to grant him bail at the station-level,” he added.
