Top cop booked for ‘rape, intimidation’ of Punjab student

AMRITSAR: Punjab Police additional inspector general, crime, Randhir Singh Uppal was booked by the cantonment police here on Friday for allegedly raping and intimidating a 28-year-old law student from Hoshiarpur.

Additional deputy commissioner of police (ADCP-2) Lakhbir Singh said a case had been registered against Uppal under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and Arms Act and the relevant section of Information Technology Act, 2000 on a complaint from the student.

Police officials said the student was married and had a six-yearold son. She filed a complaint saying Uppal, posted in Chandigarh, had been harassing her and allegedly making sexual advances for the last four months. She produced recordings of her conversations with Uppal and chats on Whatsapp, which she also posted on social media. Uppal has refuted the allegations as baseless, news agency PTI reported. He could not be contacted over the phone.

The student lodged a complaint with the Amritsar cantonment police on September 17 and another one through police helpline ‘181’ the next day. Inspector general (crime and women) Vibhu Raj has recommended registration of a case against Uppal after investigations. “As this is a rape case, we have constituted a special investigation team (SIT) led by assistant commissioner of police (Acp-headquarters) Richa Agnihotri. She will also be accompanied by SHOS of cantonment and woman police stations,” he said. The ADCP said the victim was yet to appear at the police station. “First of all, her medical examination will be conducted,” he said.