Woman’s photos in ADGP’s phone, but CID not sure what charges to invoke
Ravindranath had alleged that he had not taken any photographs
Bengaluru: Though two photographs of a woman are allegedly in the official mobile phone of the ADGP P. Ravindranath, the CID is reportedly in a fix over which section of the IPC should they book the accused under.
Sources said that the original Sections of IPC 354 (attempt to outrage the modesty of a woman) may not apply in this case. “There is no law on privacy intrusion. The officials may also have to examine whether Section IPC 506 (criminal intimidation), which was mentioned in the FIR will apply,” said an officer.
The Criminal Investigation Department on Friday reportedly received the crucial forensic report of the photographs of a young woman allegedly taken on the official mobile phone of the then additional director general of police, Karnataka State Reserve Police, P. Ravindranath from the Forensic Science Laboratory, Gandhinagar in Gujarat.
Though the CID officers are tightlipped about the report, it is reliably learnt that there were two bust photographs of the ‘victim’, which have reportedly been verified. Besides the photographs, the CID had also asked the FSL to establish the time tagging to establish the sequence of events on the day of the ‘crime’ and whether the phone, which is crucial evidence – was tampered with after it was seized by the police.
Mr. Ravindranath had alleged that he had not taken any photographs of the complainant and that he was being framed on caste grounds by his colleagues. He had also alleged that the phone was tampered after it was snatched from his hand by a man, Sridhar, at a café on Cunningham Road on May 26.
The CID is waiting to get the statements of the five women, three from the café, the victim and her cousin, who was with her, when the incident occurred, which were recorded under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) in the VIII ACMM court in the City.
“We have requested for a copy of the statements after which, we will draft the report and submit the same to the government,” said the officer.
