Inspector Chandrakant Puri took bribe of Rs 6,000 to register rape FIR, still did not file the case

Ranjit Mahanti

POLICE Inspector Chandrakant Puri attached with Parksite police station, Vikroli (west) is in news again but for a wrong reason. Earlier his senior (Inspector) S S Sakpal had claimed that Puri is not under his control. Now a MPSC student (girl) has complained against him that he (Puri) took Rs. 6,000 for registering FIR of rape against her boyfriend but did not register the case.

24-year-old, Meenal Barhate (name changed to protect identity), a resident of Ghatkopar (west), on September 3, 2014 has complained (copy available with ABI) against Puri to Commissioner of police, Rakesh Maria demanding action on Puri.

According to Meenal the accused Swapnil Babban Padekar (23) is a resident of Patil Gadaakh Chawl, Bhatwadi, Ghatkopar (west) and employed in Reliance Insurance at Koparkhairne in Navi Mumbai. Both were studying in Jhunjhunwala College at Ghatkopar. In 2008 Padekar proposed Meenal but she refused saying she is concentrating on education. Then Padekar told that he will marry her. After a long conversation Meenal accepted his proposal.

On pretext of marrying Padekar started raping her. He raped several times at Navi Mumbai, Thane, Powai and also at her home.

“Padekar raped me several times on pretext of marrying me,” said Meenal.

But after a while Padekar started ignoring and assaulting her. Even Padekar’s family members abused, thrashed and insulted her many times.

“Padekar and his family assaulted, insulted me publicly stating I am characterless,” said Meanal.

Harassed Meenal approached Ghatkopar police. Chandrakant Puri attended her as then he was posted there. Puri demanded Rs 10,000 to register FIR against Padekar but reduced the money to Rs 6,000. He took Rs 6,000 and called Padekar in police station. Instead of arresting him, Puri warned Padekar and released him.

“Puri took Rs 6,000 to register rape FIR against Padekar. He called him to the police station. Warned and released him soon,” said Meenal.

Puri told me, “maine usko samjha diya hai. Ab woh tumko pareshan nahin karega,” Meenal added.

Since then Meenal is running from pillar to post to register FIR but Ghatkopar police not paying heed to her matter.

Earlier complaint against Puri

On August 21, 2014 ABI (abinet.org) had published an article under headline that “Inspector Puri is out of my control: Sr PI SS Sakpal.” As per the news Puri does not pay heed to the Senior Inspector S S Sakpal. Even Sakpal himself says that he is helpless and Puri is not under his control.

On August 19, 2014 a person named Nitin Madhukar Shinde had complained (copy available with ABI) to Maharashtra Human Rights Commission, Mumbai, Commissioner of Police Rakesh Maria, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Ramdas Gaikwad and also in Parksite police station against Puri. Shinde wants to know that why Puri picked them up and put them behind bars for 13 hours.

Shinde later approached Nationalist Congress Party (NCP’s) vice president Sudhir Singh. When Sudhir Singh asked Sakpal that what was the reason that Shinde and his associates were picked up and lodged in lock up, both the officers and Sakpal had no answers to it. In-turn Sakpal told that Puri is not in his control.

‘Puri mere control me nahin hai. Wo apne mann ki karta rahta hai. Us se public hi nahin police station bhi pareshan hai. Lekin iss baar use maaf kar do. Uss par action hoga to senior hone ki vajah se mujh par bhi ho jayega,” Sakpal had said to Sudhir Singh.

“I don’t remember the issue. Send girl to me. I will look into the matter. I never demanded money from anyone. There is a PSI Puri in Ghatkopar police station. May be he had taken the money, not me,” said Puri.