Report filed, Kashi ASP to face action

Lucknow: The state government has initiated departmental action against then Varanasi ASP Vikas Chandra Tripathi for laxity in supervision of investigations into the allegations of the rape survivor and her companion, who immolated themselves outside the Supreme Court on August 16.

The action was taken after the two-member committee comprising UP Police Recruitment & Promotion Board chairman R K Vishwakarma and Additional Director General of Women Power Line 1090 Neera Rawat constituted by the state government to probe the entire incident submitted its report.

The woman, who had lodged a rape case against BSP MP Atul Rai, had also accused several police and judicial officers of harassing her at the behest of the accused.

A home department official said the male companion of the woman had given a complaint to then SSP Varanasi on August 27, 2020, expressing apprehension of being killed by the MP’s aide.

The investigation was given to then ASP Vikas Chandra Tripathi who registered a case on December 2, which the probe panel said was negligence on his part.

Officials said the deceased woman had also given an application to the SSP against Rai’s aide for blackmailing her and spreading lies about her, but a case was registered after three months.

On June 19, Varanasi police commissioner had entrusted ASP Tripathi with another probe about an email sent by the woman raising several allegations, but no report has been filed yet.

Then SSP Varanasi has asked Tripathi to probe the complaint given by Bharat Singh against his BSP MP son, but the ASP filed two reports, each with a different view. Sources in the home department said that another ASP rank officer has been issued a notice in the same case.