Mumbai: Cops face inquiry over rescued sex worker's rape case

Days after mid-day reported how the Chunabhatti police rescued a 20-year-old woman from flesh trade, only to send her away with their informant who then allegedly raped her, the cops now face a departmental inquiry.

Read Story: Mumbai cops 'gift' rescued sex worker to informer, who then rapes her

The police had rescued the woman along with three others during a raid on a spa in Chembur. However, in the FIR, they named only three women and readily sent the 20-year-old with their informer, Rikesh Jha. The Chunabhatti cops maintain they sent her with him in "good faith" and did not expect him to assault her.

When mid-day contacted Senior Police Inspector Sunil Shankar Bhosale from Chunabhatti Police station to ask why his officers decided to let her go with Jha, he refused to comment and told this reporter to ask the DCP for a comment.

After mid-day's report (Mumbai cops ‘gift' rescued sex worker to informer, who then rapes her, July 2), the DCP (Zone VI) Shahaji Umap initiated an inquiry in the matter.

He told this paper, "I have called for the incident report from the police station. Sometimes, we do trust our informant because they help us in future in other cases."

A source from same police station said, "Soon there will be a departmental inquiry against the cops involved in this matter."

The woman, who returned to file a rape case just 20 hours after her rescue, claimed she was not involved in sex trade and merely worked at the spa. She alleged that Rikesh had threatened to trap her in a prostitution case like her sister if she resisted him. The police are investigating her complaint under Sections 341 (wrongful restraint), 364 (kidnapping in order to murder), 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.

"Strict action will be taken against the accused and we will make a watertight case against him. Already, we have collected forensic evidence from the hotel," said Dhanraj Gaikwad, ACP, Chembur Division.