POLICE HAVE booked Anju Shah, the superintendent of the Women Rescue Home situated in Palasia, and the guard Ramkishan under Sections 330 and 376 (2C) in connection with the death of Leela Bai, a 50-year-old deranged woman who was an inmate of the home.
Leela Bai had died on September 19, 2005, and at first it was said that she had died of epilepsy. However, post mortem report revealed that she had been raped and beaten before her death. She had been raped within 48 hours of her death and 27 injury marks were found on her body. Subsequently, a magisterial inquiry into the matter was conducted by SDM Nilay Satbhaiya.
Leela Bai’s death was preceded by seven inmates of the Home running away on night of September 17, 2005. Three of the seven - Laxmi, Pooja and Santosh- were caught in Guna and they alleged in front of the media that they were often beaten and abused at the Home and it was due to the atrocities that they had run away. Incidentally, four others - Manisha, Samm Bi, Bharti and Uma - are still at large. All of them have been booked under Sections 342, 353, 332 and 34 of IPC.
However, the matter of who raped Leela Bai before her death still remains unresolved. Police investigations have failed to bring out anything. Since the woman could not leave the premises, it is being assumed that one of the males living in the quarters might be responsible for the rape.
{{/usCountry}}However, the matter of who raped Leela Bai before her death still remains unresolved. Police investigations have failed to bring out anything. Since the woman could not leave the premises, it is being assumed that one of the males living in the quarters might be responsible for the rape.
{{/usCountry}}So DNA testing of 20 males residing in the complex, most of whom are employees or their relatives, is being undertaken to find if any one of them was responsible for the rape.
TI Rakesh Puri said, “The DNA testing is being done voluntarily, and it is an opportunity for everyone to prove their innocence.” The blood samples would be taken at the MY Hospital and sent to a testing Centre in Kolkata. The results may take up to two months, Puri said.
Anju Shah was produced in court today and was sent to jail. Ramkishan would be produced tomorrow. Interestingly, Anju Shah has not been suspended so far. The Collector forwarded the file to the Divisional Commissioner who then forwarded it to the Woman and Child Development Commissioner for further action, and so far no decision has been taken.
What the IPC Sections entail
376 C: Intercourse by superintendent of jail, remand home, etc. 330: Voluntarily causing hurt to extort confession, or to compel restoration of property:
Whoever voluntarily causes hurt for the purpose of extorting from the sufferer or from any person interested in the sufferer, any confession or any information which may lead to the detection of an offence or misconduct, or for the purpose of constraining the sufferer or any person interested in the sufferer to restore or
to cause the restoration of any property or valuable security or to satisfy any claim or demand, or to give information which may lead to the restoration of any property or valuable security, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.