ADOPTION AGENCY MEMBERS, KEM DOCTORS BOOKED

ADOPTION AGENCY MEMBERS, KEM DOCTORS BOOKED

By Darshana Daga, Pune Mirror | Feb 18, 2017, 02.30 AM IST

MINOR’S RAPE AND PREGNANCY HIDDEN FROM THE POLICE

In the shocking case of a 17-year-old girl, who was raped and impregnated, delivered the baby, and gave it up for adoption — all kept secret from law enforcement agencies — city police have now booked three office-bearers of the Bharatiya Samaj Seva Kendra (BSSK) adoption agency, as well as three doctors of the King Edward Memorial (KEM) hospital. Cops are now on the lookout for the three agency members, who are on the run, even as the District’s Women and Child Development (WCD) department has asserted that it wants all trustees of the agency to be implicated, too.

A special court had earlier this month ordered Yerwada police to implicate the six accused for not divulging information to the authorities about the rape and delivery. The bail applications of the missing trio have also already been rejected by the District and Sessions Court.

The minor, who comes from an economically disadvantaged background, had been raped by her neighbour between December 2015 and January 2016. Almost a year later, in December 2016, police had booked Jay Sunil Anthony (20) for the alleged sexual abuse.

A little earlier, in October 2016, the victim’s mother had approached BSSK when her daughter was in the ninth month of pregnancy. The agency should ideally have reported the case to the police, as is mandatory under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, but they only helped in the delivery of the baby girl on October 17, 2016, and put her up for adoption, sources told Mirror.

A statement submitted by the victim to the police says, “When I had gone to BSSK with my mother, Kendre madam [sic] assured us that they would keep our secret and ensure a free delivery.” It was only a good two months later, on December 22, 2016, that BSSK approached cops, telling them that the minor had been raped and delivered the child. In a statement to the police at the time, officials said, “We had informed the mother of the minor victim that she should tell the police, but they wanted some time to think about it. However, they have not come back to us, so we request the police to take necessary action.”

On December 30, 2016, Yerwada police filed a case of sexual abuse against Anthony and arrested him on the same day. He was booked under Section 376 (rape) of the Indian Penal Code, and sections 5J (ii), 5L and 6 of the POCSO Act.

Now, the adoption agency is under the scanner for its delayed action. “When her mother approached the agency, it was the duty of the officials to immediately report the case to the police. They knew she was a minor. Instead, they took an undertaking from her mother, saying that she had been coached about the POCSO Act by the agency and would do the needful later,” informed Seema Dhakne, assistant police inspector attached with Yerwada police station.

Surprisingly, the doctors at KEM who delivered the baby also remained silent about the matter. Now, police have booked Jayashree Kendre, Roxana Kalyanwala and Saguna Pharande from BSSK, as well as Dr X Coyaji, Dr Suguna Kutagulla and Dr Prajakta Mohol from KEM Hospital in this case, all under sections 19 and 21 (1) of the POCSO Act, for the delay in informing the police about the incident.

Soon after the special court’s strictures, on February 10, the three accused from BSSK approached the District and Sessions Court seeking anticipatory bail. However, it was denied on February 15, and the trio is currently absconding. No officials from BSSK were ready to comment about the matter to Pune Mirror, saying it is sub judice.

Similarly, over at KEM, the administration head of the hospital, Dr Yemul, only said, “I do not want to comment on this matter as I am out of station.”

On February 15, the WCD department wrote to police asking them to lodge a case against all BSSK office-bearers for the two month delay in informing police. District child protection officer (DCPO) Machindra Sutar said, “The institute knows all the rules, but still did not comply. The delay is unpardonable. The WCD, Child Welfare Committee (CWC), and DCPO’s office have collectively written to the police, requesting them to hold the agency responsible for its mistake.”