Hathras Gangrape Victim's Lawyer Calls For Fresh Departmental Inquiry

Hathras Gangrape Victim's Lawyer has asked for a fresh departmental inquiry and has pressed charges against the Circle officer Ram Shabd for conformity with the rule of law and the principles of natural justice on Saturday.

Hathras Gangrape victim's lawyer, Senior Advocate Vrinda Grover's representative said that they are pressing charges against the officer for "deliberately sabotaging criminal investigations" under sections 166 A, 192, 201, and 218 of the Indian Penal Code. It also includes Section 4 of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes under the (Prevention of Atrocities Act) of 1989.

The Advocate also alleged that the departmental inquiry conducted by the Circle Officer is farcical and illegal and goes against the principles of natural justice.

The representation noted that "There was thus complete impunity for the delinquent officer to control and conduct the proceedings and manipulate recording of evidence to secure false and fabricated statement in a manner best suited to his own interest."

The investigation of the gangrape and murder of a Dalit woman in Hathras in September 2020 was led by Circle Officer, (Sadabad) Ram Shabd. Shabd was suspended for omitting the four accused person's names from the complaint even though the victim's family members had clearly stated and not registering a case under gang rape. The Hathras case has been transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The representation of the Hathras gangrape victim's lawyer also narrated the incident of how the departmental inquiry was taken. She said that Ram Shabd took the statement of the family members in the absence of the IG. They also expressed their concerns regarding the officer being unsupervised and unchecked during the investigation.

This came to light after the deceased woman's brother persuaded and got the statements which he then saw to be inaccurate and notified the lawyer. The statements reportedly included falsified statements which supported the officer.