The Kerala high court on Wednesday registered a suo motu case on the alleged police harassment of a migrant family by booking their sons for raping their daughter.
In an order, justice Devan Ramachandran directed for making the home department secretary, state police chief, and Kochi city police commissioner as opposite parties in the suo motu case. The commissioner has also been ordered to submit a report after conducting an enquiry.
The court’s action came after noticing media reports on the plight of a migrant family selling footwear. It was brought to the notice of the court by advocate AV Jojo. The elder daughter of the family had gone missing and was found in Delhi and was brought back to Kerala.
Police had booked two sons of the migrant family on the allegation that they had raped their sister. It was alleged by the family that the sub inspector of Ernakulam North police demanded Rs5 lakhs from the family to save the sons from the case.
In the order, the court said, “Taking note of the fact that very serious allegations are made against certain Police Officers by the family, who are reportedly not from Kerala, I deem it appropriate to list this matter quickly, so that there is no travesty of justice if the facts mentioned in the news report are finally found to be true.” The court directed the commissioner to ensure that the family is not subjected to any further harassment or vexation in any manner whatsoever.
