MUMBAI: SP leader and MLA
Abu Asim Azmi has demanded immediate arrest of
Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi
(VBA) functionary Abdul Rehman Anjaria, who has been absconding since Sakinaka police filed an FIR against him for alleged molestation of a minor last year.
Alleging local police were protecting Anjaria, Azmi told the assembly on Wednesday the accused had not been arrested after nearly two months of filing of the FIR. “I have asked for his arrest and action against police officers protecting him,” Azmi said.
On January 30, a special court under Pocso Act rejected Anjaria’s anticipatory bail application. “He should neither be falsely implicated, nor protected if he has committed a crime. Why are police not arresting him even after rejection of his bail petition?” asked Congress city unit vice-president Zakir Ahmed.
According to the complaint, the survivor, a 17-year-old boy who lives in the same locality as the accused (Parksite in Vikhroli), had failed in Class 10 and was seeking admission in a madrassa. Anjaria promised the boy’s family help in seeking admission. The boy’s uncle told the media that on November 9 last year, Anjaria took the boy to a secluded place behind a madrassa and touched him inappropriately.
(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme Court directives on cases related to sexual assault)