Court rejects cop's report on dowry case

KANPUR: Taking a strong view against an investigation officer, the metropolitan magistrate fourth of Kanpur Nagar, R P Gupta not only rejected the final report submitted by him in a dowry case but also asked the SSP and DIG of Kanpur range to seek his explanation and submit the same before the court on next date.
The presiding officer expressed his dissatisfaction when in a case styled as State vs Akhilesh Katiyar, the second investigation officer named as Ajeet Singh ignored the facts collected by his predecessor and filed a final report exonerating the accused husband and his family members from the charges.
The judge observed that Ajeet Singh ignored the investigation made by his predecessor and gave a clean chit to the accused. While first investigation officer, Manju Kannaujia, in charge, women police station had collected the evidence which was sufficient to summon the accused and his family. Investigation officer, Ajeet Singh did not follow the rules of investigations hence, the final report of the case was rejected and the accused, Akhilesh Katiyar, Awadhesh Katiyar, Prem Lata, Ram Babu, Ramwati and Munni were summoned in the court.
According to case file, Pratibha Katiyar had lodged a report with women police station against her husband, Akhilesh and in-laws that they were harassing her for dowry and made her a victim of physical violence. She was married with Akhilesh on February 26, 2007 and since then she was not provided full diet.
On March 1, 2009 she returned to her parent's house. Her husband and in-laws came to her parent's house on April 9, 2008 and thrashed her severely and got a signature on blank papers and some affidavits.
The complainant went to Barra police station but her report was not registered by the police. Later, her report was registered at women police station. The first investigation officer, Manju Kannaujia collected sufficient evidence against the husband and his parents. The witnesses and medical examination report corroborated the statement of Pratibha Katiyar. By the time she could file a charge sheet against the accused the investigation was transferred to Ajeet Singh, sub-inspector posted at that time in Kotwali police station.
Ajeet ignored entire previous investigation and submitted a final report giving a clean chit to husband, Akhilesh and others.