By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net
Bhopal: An Ahmedabad court has registered a criminal case against Mrs. Parikshita Gurjar (Rathod), Assistant Police Commissioner of City Crime Branch of Ahmedabad City of Gujarat State. The court issued summons for the accused to appear before the Metropolitan Magistrate Court No. 21 on February 18.
The Court proceedings were initiated by the All India Christian Council due to unlawfully detaining a Backward Class youth named Dhirajbhai, his elder brother Advocate Rasikbhai, his sister-in-law, and his aged father and, thereafter, beating severely Dhirajbhai in the office of the Crime Branch.
“By detaining the family of Backward Class staying in the Ahmedabad City, the capital of Gujarat state, without any reason, and threatening to kill and creating fear, a great injustice was done. A police complaint has been lodged against Mrs. Parikshita Gurjar, Asstt. Police Commissioner of Crime Branch, and summons have been issued to her to remain present for an upcoming hearing,” said Samson Christian, All India Christian Council, (AICC), National Executive member and general secretary in a Press statement.
According to the Press statement Advocate Rasikbhai Muljibhai Waghela, residing at Ranip, Ahmedabad City of Gujarat state, was residing with his family. The marriage of Dhirajbhai, younger brother of Rasikbhai was performed with Harshaben Dimple in the year 2000.
However, after marriage instead of staying at the in-laws house, Harshaben was staying at her parent’s house and was pressurising Dhirajbhai to come to her parent’s home. But Dhirajbhai did not oblige. Finally, Harshaben Dimple came to her in-laws for few days and after celebrating a ‘SEEMANT’ ceremony, she returned to her parental home. After the birth of a child, she did not return to her husband, who was still living with his parents. Therefore, Dhirajbhai applied for a search warrant in the Metropolitan Magistrate Court No. 13 of Ahmedabad to have both in his home. But Harshaben Dimple told the court that she does not want to go to her husband’s house and will stay at her father’s home and the custody of the son was her right.
Then, Harshaben, the wife of Dhirajbhai, planned to get a divorce. She filed an application before the Mahila (women) Police Station, Ahmedabad alleging there was a lot of harassment by Dhirajbhai, his elder brother Advocate Rasikbhai, and others. The accused family members were called to Mahila Police Station on March 6, 2006 at 11.00 am when Harshaben and her family members were also present. They levelled false allegations of being tortured by Dhirajbhai and his family members, demanded the divorce and Rs. 50,000/- household utensils, other ornaments and amount of life-time maintenance. Dhirajbhai and his family members did not agree to this. Then Harshaben Dimple registered an offence in the Mahila police Station against her husband Dhirajbhai and his family members.
On March 23, 2006 at about 11.00 pm, Asstt. Police Commissioner Mrs. Parikshita Gurjar went to the house of Rasikbhai in plain clothes and in a private vehicle with two unknown persons. He took Rasikbhai, his wife and father in the vehicle, brought to the Mahila police Station and said, “Tell your brother Dhirajbhai to get a divorce. The other party is demanding Rs. 2,00,000/- of expenses, but I will complete in Rs. 50,000/- if you give me Rs. 20,000/- for my expense”.
After hearing this, Advocate Rasikbhai reportedly said, “We have not committed any offence. We are not able to give such a huge amount. Whatever legal proceedings has to be done, must be done.” At this Asstt. Police Commissioner Mrs. Parikshita became angry and threatened Advocate Rasikbhai. She said she could cancel his degree, arrest him illegally, and take away the mobile phone of Rasikbhai.
Thereafter, two days later on March 23, a phone call of ACP Mrs. Parikshita Gurjar came on the mobile phone of Police Constable Natvarsinh, writer of the said Police Station, and Advocate Rasikbhai was threatened for not giving money. ACP Parikshita Gurjar talked with Advocate Rasikbhai in a very abusive language, the statement said.
Meanwhile, on March 26 a press reporter came in the said Police Station, and gave his own mobile to Rasikbhai. Rasikbhai told ACP Parikshita Gurjar that the illegal arrest of him and his family and the demand of a bribe was being watched by the media. Advocate Rasikbhai was presented before the Metropolitan Magistrate. By seeking a remand of two days, Advocate Rasikbhai and his family members were jailed in Gaikwad Haveli Police Station with hardened criminals. Due to hunger and thirst during detention, the health of Advocate Rasikbhai deteriorated. On March 27, 2006 wife of the Advocate Rasikbhai and his father were released. Next day on March 28 Advocate Rasikbhai was released on bail.
Advocate Rasikbhai Waghela and his family sought the help of AICC due to continuing fear. The AICC lodged a written complaint of the incident to higher police officers of the State. On July 21, 2007, a FIR (First Information Report) No. 12/08 was registered in the Metropolitan Magistrate Court No. 21 under Section 323, 504 and 506(1) of IPC. A summon has been issued to ACP Mrs. Parikshita Gurjar to appear before the court next month on February 18.
“The AICC welcomes the case registered against ACP Mrs. Parikshita Gurjar (Rathod) by the Metropolitan Magistrate, and the summon issued to her. We appeal to the court to initiate proceedings as such a case is alarming. Police, who are protectors, should not be harassing citizens,” said Samson Christian. ([email protected])