CID to probe rape case earlier assigned to accused cops: Bombay HC

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Wednesday transferred the probe in a rape and human trafficking case to Maharashtra CID after it was alleged that the policemen named as perpetrators by the two victims were assigned the probe.

A division bench headed by Justice Ranjit More was hearing a petition filed by an advocate seeking CBI probe in the case.

As per the petition, the two victims, one of whom was 15 years old at the time of the alleged offence, had been lured from Delhi by a Pune resident on the promise of a job.

They were later forced into prostitution, raped multiple times, brutally assaulted, burnt with cigars and cigarettes and beaten up with belts by the clients as well as the traffickers.

They managed to escape from Pune to Delhi where they met the petitioner who helped them approach the Delhi Police.

A zero FIR was filed in Delhi and another FIR was filed in Pune. The victims also named two officials of the Pune police as their clients. Both the women were untraceable when the petition came up for hearing earlier.

However, the Pune police today informed the bench that one of the victims has been traced and efforts are on to find the other.

Senior counsel Mihir Desai, appointed to assist the court in the matter, told the high court that he had interviewed the victim and prima facie the allegations made in the petition appear to be true.

"The women were trafficked and some policemen are involved in it," Desai said.

The court, after hearing the arguments, said it would transfer the probe to the state CID.

"After perusing the allegations and the fact that policemen were also involved in the offence, it would be proper if an independent agency like the state CID carries out investigation in the case," the bench said.

The court directed a Superintendent of Police-level officer of the CID to head the probe.

"We hope that the CID conducts and completes the probe as expeditiously as possible," the court said while disposing of the petition.