No conviction in 150 sexual harassment complaints against Delhi Police staff | Latest News Delhi - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

No conviction in 150 sexual harassment complaints against Delhi Police staff

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | By, New Delhi
Nov 22, 2017 07:18 AM IST

Rights activists say reporting crimes to police can sometimes be daunting, and complainants can face more harassment, from being asked for bribes to sexual favours in the case of women.

At least 150 Delhi Police personnel were or are being investigated, or are facing charges over allegations of rape, molestation and sexual harassment over the past six years, but none has been convicted, Hindustan Times has found. In 122 cases, the investigations are on, or the charges have been filed. In the other 28, the policemen involved have been acquitted.

Of the 150 policemen accused of sexual harassment, 122 are facing trial while 28 have been acquitted, according to replies Hindustan Times received from 38 of Delhi Police’s 45 departments under Right to Information.(Sanchit Khanna/ HT File Photo)
Of the 150 policemen accused of sexual harassment, 122 are facing trial while 28 have been acquitted, according to replies Hindustan Times received from 38 of Delhi Police’s 45 departments under Right to Information.(Sanchit Khanna/ HT File Photo)

The allegations also include stalking, inappropriate touching and trying to have “unnatural sex” with women, some of whom had come to a police station for help. Among the complainants were three policewomen who accused their seniors of sexual harassment.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The information is based on replies Hindustan Times received from 38 of Delhi Police’s 45 departments under the Right to Information law. The rest did not respond.

Delhi Police spokesman Dependra Pathak defended the force’s record in dealing with sexual harassment.

“We take action with speed and certainty,” he said. “We have institutionalised the process of gender sensitisation of police force and our vigilance department is proactive in such cases.”

The policemen involved belonged to four categories of employees: Constable, head constable, assistant sub-inspector and sub-inspector.

Crimes against women remain largely under-reported in India, especially workplace harassment, despite stringent new laws and better enforcement. Far less focus is laid on the conduct of the police that are dedicated to protecting citizens.

Rights activists say reporting crimes to police can sometimes be daunting, and complainants can face a barrage of harassment from being asked for bribes to sexual favours in the case of women.

In one instance, a woman alleged that a constable and his son raped and beat her up in 2015. The policeman was arrested on her complaint and a court is hearing the case, one of the RTI replies from Rohini (south) police station said.

An assistant sub-inspector was accused by a woman of trying to have “unnatural sex” with her last year, another response from the Subzi Mandi police station in north Delhi said.

Two women victims Hindustan Times spoke to alleged mental torture and threat from senior officers when they went to police station to file a complaint.

The first victim, who refused to be named for fear of persecution, said she was “groped and touched” by a head constable last year. “When I filed a case against the head constable, an ACP [assistant commissioner of police] tried to convince me not to go ahead,” she said.

“They threatened me indirectly saying that ‘police would never cooperate with you if you get into any trouble in future’.”

To be sure, the Delhi Police did act against some of the 150 accused. In 30% cases, the accused, while standing trial, were demoted by up to four years after departmental inquiries. Two constables were dismissed after such internal inquiries.

Should these dismissed and demoted employees win their court cases they can be reinstated and their dues paid.

But activists say many women who go to file complainants at police stations face hostility.

“Complaining against police personnel is very difficult because they are in a powerful position to negotiate. By and large, victims are pushed to withdraw their cases,” said Ranjana Kumari, director of the Centre for Social Research.

The second victim cited above told Hindustan Times that a constable from Rajouri Garden police station used to stalk her before asking for sex.

“He threatened me with dire consequences if I filed a complaint,” she said. The Delhi Police is looking into her complaint against the constable.  

Unveiling 'Elections 2024: The Big Picture', a fresh segment in HT's talk show 'The Interview with Kumkum Chadha', where leaders across the political spectrum discuss the upcoming general elections. Watch now!
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
  • ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    author-default-90x90

    Jeevan Prakash Sharma is assistant editor, Special Assignment. He has spent nearly 20 years in journalism with focus on education, real estate, crime and legal . He specialises in RTI-based information and open source data.

SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On