BENGALURU: A special public prosecutor, appointed to represent the state in a case of sexual assault on a minor, was removed from the case after he allegedly demanded bribes from the victim’s parents. Advocate M Narasappa was appointed to represent Electronics City police in the case where a minor was sexually assaulted in November 2015. Police had registered the case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) Act.
According to Karnataka State Child Rights Commission chairperson Kripa Alva, a complaint was registered with the commission regarding Narasappa demanding bribes from the victim’s parents. He demanded bribes for almost every hearing. He allegedly wanted a huge sum to be paid to him for opposing grant of bail to the accused.
Kripa Alva said, “The victim’s parents filed a complaint with us backed with evidence. The complaint with the evidence sent to Department Of Prosecutions & Government Litigation and action has been taken.” The parents filed complaints with the commission on February 23 and on May 11. A probe was ordered and Narasappa was removed from the case, sources said. Deputy director of the department R N Lamani said that an inquiry has been ordered and investigations are under way. There was one complaint registered against Narasappa and action has been taken in that case, he added.Child rights activist Vasudev Sharma said, “I feel very sorry about the state of affairs. A representative of the government is shaming the state in this manner. In fact, conviction in POCSO cases is very less. ”
What is the case?
An eight-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted for more than a year by a relative at her residence.
According to police, the complaint was registered on November 19, 2015. The crime was committed between February 2014 and November 2015. According to the complaint, the accused, who was then 24 years old, is a relative and would come to the victim’s house every day on the pretext of teaching the girl. He allegedly showed her porn videos and sexually assaulted her.
Much later, the parents noticed that the girl used to look very tired. When they inquired with her, she told them about what the relative was doing to her. The parents then filed a complaint. Police booked the case under Sections 6, 4, 8, 12 of POCSO Act and Sec 504 and 506 of IPC and filed a chargesheet.