Despite all round criticism for its insensitive response to the crime against women, the Delhi Police has refused to mend its ways, literally. In yet another incident, a Delhi Police official demanded a bribe of `2,000, for registering the missing complaint of an aspiring fashion designer on Saturday.
The investigation of the case was taken back from the investigating officer and the money returned to the relatives of the girl after the matter came to notice of senior officers.
Police said the missing girl has been identified as Prachi Dhamija alias Sakshi, a student of International Institute of Fashion Design (INIFD), Hauz Khas. She is a native of Muzaffar Nagar and currently staying in a girl hostel in Vijay Block, laxmi Nagar along with her sister. “The incident took place on Sunday around 11 am when she had gone to a nearby shop of her locality but she did not return,” a senior police officer said.
The incident came to light around 2 pm when Prachi’s younger sister, who also went in their cousin’s home in Najafgarh on Saturday evening, had made several calls on Prachi’s mobile phones but she didn’t answer. “Fearing that something was amiss, they immediately reached her hostel and found that the door was locked from outside. They opened the door from and found her mobile in her room and they informed her parents about this matter,” the officer added.
Police said they called all her friends and relatives but when failing to search their sister, they finally decided to approach the local police. The victim’s brother Vivek Arora said on Sunday evening, they went to Shakarpur police station where they informed the duty officer about this matter, who in turn informed a sub-inspector Bl Sharma about the whole issue. “He first told us to come on Sunday as he was busy with some other case investigation but after several request, he became ready to lodge our complaint. But the investigation office demanded a bribe of `2,000 for registering the missing complaint and we gave him,” he claimed.
After registering the complaint, investigation officer (IO) asked him to give five pictures of the victim. In the meantime, the Assistant Commissioner of Police (sub-division) and station house office (Shakarpur) also reached the police station. The victim brother then informed them about the whole matter and after taking the written complaint against the first IO, the investigation of the case was taken back from him and the money was returned to the victim’s brother. However, the senior Delhi Police officers denied all these allegations and claimed that they have changed the IO due to the investigation of some other urgent case.