Following an FIR against former joint secretary of the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association, Alpesh Shah in connection with sexual molestation of an under-19 female cricketer here on late Thursday night, Indore police have started probe into the matter.
Speaking to The Pioneer, SP (east) Indore O P Tripathi said the police have recorded preliminary statement of the victim and have also interrogated some other persons in connection with the case. He further said that as per the new provisions, they need to record statement of the victim under section 164 of the CrPC.
In this regard, we have submitted a requested letter before the district court today to record statement of the victim further before the court under the given section and the court will remain busy tomorrow on account of mega lok adalat, we hope that the court will give us permission to record the statement of the victim under section 164 by either Monday or Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the accused former MPCA official Alpesh Shah against whom, Tukoganj police registered a case on Thursday night under IPC section 354 (assault or criminal force against a woman with the intent to outrage her modesty) is reported to be missing from the house. SP Tripathi informed that Tukoganj police today sent a police team to the residence of Alpesh Shah but he could no be located.
Following a complaint by a senior life member of the MPCA leeladhar Paliwal with the Tukoganj police yesterday seeking registration of an FIR against Shah and other MPCA officials, the victim cricketer not content with the course of action that was supposed to be taken against the accused, went to Tukoganj police last night accompanied by her father and grandfather and lodged a complaint of molestation against Shah.
The victim in her complaint alleged that on September 23, Shah called her to her room at the Madhavrao Scindia Administrative Block at the MPCA office to give “special blessings” and when she went to his office, Shah allegedly tried to molest her but she somehow managed to wriggle out of his clutches and ran home.
The Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association which had earlier constituted a probe panel to look into the matter, in a belated development has reconstituted the probe panel including three women members in the panel including the retired High Court judge Indrani Dutta, advocate Meena Chapekar and MPCA member Anita Atrey. Another member of the panel include MPCA member Ashok Kumar and CEO, MPCA Rohit Pundit.
Meanwhile, the MPCA secretary Narendra Menon while talking to the mediapersons here on Friday while claiming to help the police in the molestation case, denied the accused Alpesh Shah has resigned from his post. Shah will merely keep himself away from all his responsibilities of MPCA joint secretary till the ongoing probe against him is completed.