Allahabad HC Pulls Up Police Over 'Poor' Investigation In 'Rape' Case Involving A Minor, Seeks UP DGP's Affidavit

The Allahabad High Court has criticized the Uttar Pradesh police for their poor investigation into a rape case involving a 14-year-old girl. The court highlighted lapses in the investigation and supervision by the Investigating and Supervising Officers. The victim, who was nine weeks pregnant, was not asked any specific questions about her pregnancy by the Investigating Officer or the Supervising Officer. The court directed the Director General of Police to file an affidavit enclosing circulars related to the accountability of the Investigating Officer, Supervising Officer, Monitoring Officer, and other higher officials by July 29, 2024.\r

The victim's brother lodged an FIR claiming that her sister went missing on April 21, 2023, and no information could be gathered about her. She later claimed to be about 20 years old and left her house to her aunt's house in Kanpur. She was later found to be 15 years old and had a nine-week pregnancy in her ultrasound report. The accused, seeking bail, submitted that a charge sheet had already been filed and the trial is not going on. However, the AGA representing the state submitted that the applicant confessed to making physical intimation with the victim and that the parents of the victim supported the prosecution story. The court granted bail to the accused based on the rival submissions of counsel for the applicant and the AGA.