Molestation case: HC forces constable to withdraw plea

The Delhi High Court has forced a constable to withdraw his plea, seeking quashing of criminal proceedings in a case of alleged molestation, saying his behaviour was "unacceptable".

The Delhi High Court has forced a constable to withdraw his plea, seeking quashing of criminal proceedings in a case of alleged molestation, saying his behaviour was "unacceptable".

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"You have misused your official position to assault a woman and that is not acceptable in our society... either you withdraw your petition or I will dismiss it," Justice Ajit Bharihoke said.

The counsel for constable Bharat Rattan promptly withdrew the petition as the public prosecutor also opposed it, saying "it was quite unbecoming of a policeman who is supposed to protect women."

Earlier, the policeman, facing trial at a lower court at Rohini, said the case against him be quashed as he and the complainant woman has entered into an out-of-court settlement, as she does not want to pursue it. Rattan, then posted at Model Town police station, and his accomplice had molested a woman, employed with a PSU bank, on a night in January last year when she was returning home by a rickshaw in north Delhi.