Bengaluru: Demanding justice for the rape survivor, women’s organisations in Karnataka under the banner of Karnataka Mahila Dourjanya Viruddhi Okkuta (KMDVO) have demanded that the case should be moved out of Mysuru, because the complainant may not get justice.
A former IAS officer’s daughter had last week lodged a criminal complaint of rape against her brother-in-law, Dr Prabudha Harsha Murthy, and domestic violence and dowry harassment against her in-laws, Dr C.B. Murthy and his wife at the Indiranagar Police Station. The police had registered the FIR and the case was transferred to Mysuru, because the crime had allegedly occurred there in November last year, when the complainant was eight months pregnant.
“We demand that a transparent, impartial investigation is conducted, which is not affected by external biases and circumstances. This investigation must be conducted with due sensitivity and ensure that the survivor is spared of undue harassment, trauma and distress. The investigating officer must not be from the Mysore Revenue Division as this case is clearly being affected and diluted by other issues. Further to this, the complainant in this case is entitled to Special Public Prosecutor for conducting the trial,” demanded the Okkutta.
KMDVO, a coalition of different activists, women’s groups and organizations, has expressed its concern over the “attempts being made to defame the rape survivor and her family and discredit the veracity of her complaint, besides resorting to mudslinging even before the investigation has begun,” said Ms Dona Fernandes, member of the Okkutta and founder of Vimochana – a women’s rights group. The group is holding a candle light vigil on Wednesday at Town Hall to demand justice for the rape survivor.
Politicians, top government officials pressuring Mysuru police?
Pressure from various quarters, including from politicians, is said to be coming in the way of a fair investigation into the alleged rape of a pregnant daughter of a retired IAS officer by her brother-in-law in Mysuru recently. An MLC and a few top government officials seem to be applying pressure on the police to go slow on the investigation.
However, Mysuru Police Commissioner Dr M.A. Saleem denied that political pressure is preventing his men from arresting the accused in the rape and dowry harassment case. “The investigation is going in the right direction. It will not matter to us if a relative of Dr Murthy’s wife is a member of the Legislative Council. A special team headed by an officer of the rank of assistant commissioner of police and assisted by two inspectors has been constituted to trace Dr C.B .Murthy and his family who are absconding after their daughter-in-law filed a case with the Bengaluru police last week. The investigation is supervised by the Deputy Commissioner of Police Patil. We are confident of arresting the accused as early as possible."
Meanwhile, sources in Mysore said, “Dr Murthy’s family does not have any high political connection as perceived, except that a relative of the doctor's wife is a Member of the Legislative Council. Dr Murthy always distanced himself from politicians. No local politician from Mysore has put any pressure on the police to stop them from arresting the accused."
They said, “The hospital run by Dr Murthy is said to be under loss and has reportedly been put on sale. It is also alleged that the staff at the hospital is not being paid on time. It was a referral hospital for police officers, who were injured during encounters with bandit Veerappan in M M Hills during the 80s and 90s. Actor Sanjay Khan too had been admitted to this hospital for a day or two after a fire accident on the sets of ‘The Sword of Tipu Sultan’ which killed more than 40 people. Premier Studios, where the tele-serial was being shot, is just 200 metres from this hospital in Jayalakshmi Puram."
They said, “There was a dispute over property in the family and Dr Murthy and his wife were reportedly staying in a rented house.”
Mysuru police conduct mahazar with victim, husband
The Mysuru police probing the rape and dowry harassment case filed by the daughter of a retired IAS officer conducted spot mahazar along with the complainant on Tuesday.
The police said that the complainant, who was issued a notice, turned up on Tuesday along with her husband. The mahazar that started at 12.30 pm went on till 3.30 pm. There were 8-10 policemen including women staff during the inquest.
“She was taken to her in-law’s house in Vontikoppal, where the alleged rape took place and the mahazar was conducted as part of the probe. She was asked to explain the events that happened on the day she was allegedly raped. Even her husband, who came to her rescue, after the incident was also present during the mahazar and he was asked to explain the events,” a source said.
“However, the room where the alleged rape took place was empty and the police did not have any material evidence to collect from the room,” said the victim’s father. “We do not know if the police have collected any evidence in connection with the incident earlier,” he added. Interestingly, Rashmi, the daughter of accused Dr C.B. Murthy, was present in the house along with her husband during the mahazar.
Meanwhile, the police are still on the lookout for the accused trio, Dr. C.B. Murthy, his wife Nalina Murthy and their elder son Dr Prabudha Harsha Murthy, who are absconding after the incident. Sources, however, said that the police were aware of their whereabouts but were not questioning or arresting them. “There are unconfirmed reports that the accused have applied for anticipatory bail and the police are waiting for the court to pass an order,” the source added. But Mysuru city Police Commissioner M.A. Saleem said that the special team formed to probe the case is on the lookout for the accused.
