SEXUAL ASSAULT’: WOMAN JOURNO SEEKS POLICE PROTECTION

Tuesday, 02 September 2014 | PNS | DEHRADUN/Pauri | in Dehradun

A woman journalist — who had registered a case of sexual assault against the former Pauri MLA and the Pauri municipality chairperson Yashpal Singh Rawat ‘Benam’ — has sought security from the Pauri Police on Monday.

Taking cognisance of zero FIR lodged in Dalanwala Police Station by the woman journalist against Benam on Saturday, the Pauri Police have registered a case against him in the women police station, Srinagar on Monday, said Pauri Superintendent of Police Ajay Joshi while talking to The Pioneer. The SP has deputed a constable for her security in response to the lady’s appeal.

Meanwhile, police have recorded the complainant’s statement under Section 161 of CrPC on Monday. Her statement will be recorded under section 164 of CrPC before the magistrate on Tuesday, he added.

SP Joshi said the women police station incharge Jeeto Kamboj has been appointed as investigating officer of the case. Kamboj met the woman complainant on Monday.

While talking to The Pioneer, sub-inspector Kamboj said that the complainant had narrated the incident and provided some evidences related to the case too. Her statement was recorded section 161 of CrPC on Monday. Moreover, her statement will be recorded before the magistrate under section 164 of CrPC on Tuesday.

After completion of the investigation of the evidences as provided by the woman complainant over the case, chairman Benam will be also asked to record his statement on the incident.

While talking to The Pioneer, Benam denied that his voice was matching with the male voice found on the audio record the lady had presented to the police. Visibly anguished,  Benam said, “I have no option but to fight the case in the court.” Benam reiterated that one of the journalists of a daily newspaper had hatched a conspiracy to defame him.

 It should be mentioned here that a woman journalist working in a monthly magazine has registered a zero FIR in Dalanwala police station on August 30 wherein she alleged that Benam had attempted to sexually molest her on August 23, 2014 when she had met him seeking payment for some advertisements. An advertisement related to municipality was printed in the magazine on the eve of Independence Day. Taking cognizance of this, a case under sections 294, 354, 376, 511 and 506 of IPC was registered against the chairman in the Dalanwala Police Station on Saturday.

http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/dehradun/sexual-assault-woman-journo-seeks-police-protection.html