Representative image | Photo: Mathrubhumi archives
Kochi: The Kerala High Court has rebuked the police for not filing a case against the ASI who allegedly demanded a bribe from a Delhi couple to release their two daughters from a children’s home.
The court reminded the police that there is a statement against the ASI that he demanded Rs 98,500 for visiting New Delhi as part of a complaint filed by the couple. The police told the court that there is no evidence to prove the allegations. This irked the court.
On October 13, Mathrubhumi had reported the ordeal of a Delhi couple who migrated to Kochi 11-years-ago. They alleged that the police demanded Rs 5 lakhs from the couple for releasing their daughters who went missing after falling prey to cybercriminals. They took the daughters to Delhi and raped them. When filed a complaint, police demanded money to go to Delhi. The police tracked the girls down and sent them into a care home. The police then demanded Rs 5 lakh from the parents to release the girls from the care home, they allege.
The counsel for the couple informed the court that the ASI collected Rs 20,000 from the girl who is a survivor in the POCSO case. Following that, the court demanded a comprehensive reply on the matter from the police. The court asked who permitted the five officers to go to Delhi and why the higher officials did not ask about the source of money for travel.
The Kochi City Police Commissioner told the court that a departmental investigation has been initiated against the five cops.