Mumbai: An activist has moved the Maharashtra State Child Rights Commission over the slow pace of investigation into the alleged rape and sodomy of a three-year-old girl by a 57-year-old foreigner, a trustee of the victim’s Andheri-based school.
The girl’s parents lodged an FIR against the man with the MIDC police on May 18. But with the trustee being in Paris along with 12 other students, including girls, the case has come to a standstill.
Assistant Commissioner of Police, Zone 10, Ambadas Pawar told The Hindu that they suspect the crime took place earlier this year, as that was when the girl started behaving differently, leading to the discovery of bruises on her private parts.
Advocate S. Balakrishnan, who has moved the Child Rights Commission, said, “The casual manner in which the case is being handled is unfathomable. They have been questioning why it took the parents so long to file an FIR, but have conveniently overlooked that an allegation of such weight requires surety and caution on the complainant’s part. They wouldn’t want to make false accusations of such substance against someone.”
Mr. Balakrishnan said the child was taken to the office of the accused by another teacher. The woman has already been questioned, according to a senior police officer, but the details have not been revealed.
“If the man is so sure about his innocence and has nothing to be afraid of, why is he taking refuge behind a mere email, which establishes nothing,” Mr. Balakrishnan said.
A senior police official said the accused is currently out of the country, and will be questioned when he returns.
Mr. Balakrishnan, who filed the complaint on Wednesday, said he had also written to Mumbai Police Commissioner Datta Padsalgikar.
In the complaint to the Child Rights Commission, he has said that as per the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the commission is empowered to proactively intervene in the matter. He has requested the commission to associate closely with the investigation.
Mr. Balakrishnan has also requested that the trial be conducted before a fast-track court.
