No person has been arrested so far in the Meena Khalkho murder case and no rape charges under Section 376 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been registered in the killing of Meena Khalkho, Home Minister Ramsevak Paikra informed the Chhattisgarh Assembly here on Wednesday.

Dissatisfied with the Minister’s reply, Congress party members staged walkout during the question hour.        

The Home Minister said that charges of rape under Section 376 would be added to the FIR registered in the case.

Paikra was replying to the question raised by Congress member Bhupesh Baghel on behalf of leader of Opposition TS Singhdeo in his absence on the third day of monsoon session of the Chhattisgarh Assembly.

He informed the House that the Judicial Commission had already presented its report on the Meena Khalkho murder case that was tabled during Assembly session last year.

The case has been handed over to Crime Investigation Department (CID) wherein a case under Sections 302 and 34 IPC have been registered with CID police station, he said. 

Baghel while referring to the Judicial Commission report said that when the report says that victim was subject to rape then why was Section 376 IPC not registeredIJ

The Home Minister said that much debate over the report was already carried out in the House and Section 376 will be added to the FIR.

To Baghel’s demand for revealing the name of accused police personnel and departmental action initiated against them, the Home Minister said that the case was still under investigation.

He said that a case was registered against the then Chando police station In-charge, Nikodin Khes along with others.

Paikra also revealed that no arrest was made in the case.

Congress member Mohan Markam said that the police personnel could influence the investigation in the case.

Congress member AK Rai said that CID was ‘loop line’ department of police department and when a case under Section 302 has been registered then named report under Section 376 should be also registered and the House should be informed.

The Home Minister while reading out Judicial Commission’s report said that the Commission has recommended finding who are the policemen responsible for the incident and it will take time. 

Paikra said that judicial report had not made the rape section in the case much clear hence it is taking time.

Baghel then questioned whether the sperm sample of suspected cops was collected or not for investigation in the case to which there came no reply from the Home Minister.