Probe On For 'Hoax' Letter Claiming 8 Women Cops Raped By Seniors

The Maharashtra State Commission for Women has taken cognisance of a letter, purportedly written by eight female police constables alleging rape, sexual harassment, and blackmail by three superiors. The women officers of the motor transport department have refuted that they wrote the letter. Mumbai Police launched a probe into the three-page letter which was sent to senior police officers by speed post. The search for the sender is underway through CCTV footage at the post office and other details. Moreover, a case of defamation against the sender is reportedly being filed. 

According to a report in the Indian Express, the Women’s Commission wrote to the Mumbai Police Commissioner saying, "The news is being circulated through social media that 8 women police of Nagpada, Motor Transport Division of Mumbai Police, are being sexually harassed by senior policemen of their division. The Commission has taken note of it." The notice also stated that the matter is "of serious nature," and demanded that a report be submitted to the commission. 

Police Investigate Sender Of The Letter

The letter, which the women constables claim to be fake, states that the three senior officers took advantage of them. It reads, "As we are from small villages, they took advantage of us. Under the pretext of not giving us any work on duty, the two police inspectors took us to the DCP’s house, and they sexually assaulted us one after the other." The letter also states that on one occasion, one of the women was raped in the DCP's office.

It further states, "The two inspectors shot a video of the (rape) act and blackmailed us to get physically intimate with them. They would also get drunk at night and ask us to send our nude photos.” It also states that the women constables were threatened to pay Rs 1000 each month. The letter ends with the signatures of the eight constables, which they claim is forged. 

The document is now going viral on social media, instilling fear in the family members of the women constables. “I am getting calls one after the other since the letter has gone viral. Even I was shocked to read it initially because I had not written any such letter. My family members panicked, and my parents were distraught thinking the contents of the letter were true. They too began getting calls from relatives and friends,” one of the constables told Indian Express. 

Joint Commissioner of Police, S Jaykumar told Indian Express, “Initially we were investigating the rape allegations. But when the eight women constable drivers were questioned for details, they denied having written any such letter.” Jaykumar added that they are now looking to identify the person who sent the letter.

“All the eight constable drivers and the three senior police officers visited the Commissionerate office on Monday after which it was decided that they shall register a case against the person who has sent the letter to the Chief Minister and other senior officials from the department,” an unnamed officer told Indian Express.