Plea alleges Haryana CPS shielded molesters, HC seeks response

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana high court has put Haryana government’s chief parliamentary secretary (CPS), Bakhshish Singh Virk, among others, on notice after a petition moved by a Karnal woman, who had alleged involvement of CPS in shielding some persons accused of trying to molest and rape her.

The high court bench of justice Rekha Mittal has sought response by April 20.

The woman had alleged that on October 19, 2016, when she was in the fields in Asandh area, some persons from a local dera assaulted her, tried to rape her and also had beaten up her mother.

The FIR was registered on October 27 against 9 persons on the complaint of the woman in which she had alleged role of one Baba Badbhag Singh, who ran a dera just opposite to their fields and had been allegedly pressurising them to sell the land.

The woman had alleged that delay in the registration of FIR was due to police connivance with the accused persons, who were allegedly influenced by CPS Bakhshish Singh Virk, as Baba Badbhag Singh was ‘close’ to him.

The court was also told that out of nine, only one person was arrested by the police.

The manner in which the investigation is being carried out, it raises suspicion that the Investigating officer wants to exonerate the other accused persons involved in the crime, the court was told.

Several representations have been given to higher ups, but still investigation was not being done properly.

Hence, the matter be referred to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for further investigation, the complainant demanded.