The most crucial part of her job was to regain the confidence of a rape victim and make her testify against another personnel from the same police force.
Meet API Jyotsna V Rasam of the crime branch unit I, who supported the 16-year-old college girl after she was raped by constable Sunil More inside the Marine Drive police post on April 21 last year.
Once the case was transferred to the crime branch and a special team was formed under the supervision of Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Meera Borwankar, the police felt it apt to include a woman officer in the team and going by her past record, Jyotsna was the first choice.
Speaking to the Hindustan Times at the sessions court on Tuesday, she said: "I have been with the Mumbai police for the last 17 years and was on CBI deputation for quite some years. Though I have handled many high profile cases (fake stamp paper scam, UTI bank fraud scam, and many other securities and bank fraud cases), this case was special as it involved a personnel from the force against whom I had to collect evidence under the watchful eyes of the media and public at large."
"The most important part was to protect the victim's identity and support her in all possible ways until the trial was over. It was like swimming against the tide, as I had to console the girl and also collect information from her regarding the involvement of the accused. It was not easy. After the incident, the vic tim's grandfather expired and she kept blaming herself for his death. I had to deal with the situation in a very tactful manner," Jyotsna said.
{{/usCountry}}"The most important part was to protect the victim's identity and support her in all possible ways until the trial was over. It was like swimming against the tide, as I had to console the girl and also collect information from her regarding the involvement of the accused. It was not easy. After the incident, the vic tim's grandfather expired and she kept blaming herself for his death. I had to deal with the situation in a very tactful manner," Jyotsna said.
{{/usCountry}}Sunil More was convicted for 12 years and Jyotsna credits team work and able guidance from seniors for the success.
It does not end here for Jyotsna. She is also part of the investigating team probing the sensational South African model rape case and the Sahar police station head constable Chandrakant Pawar rape case.