Delhi High Court refuses to quash FIR against three men who tried to molest a Delhi Police Constable

"You were not ashamed of molesting the lady and now you are shying away from reading the FIR.", said Justice Pratibha Rani when she asked one of the accused in a case where three men had tried to molest a Delhi Police constable, to read the contents of the FIR.

The Delhi Police constable was returning from duty at around 10 pm when three boys passed coarse remarks and also caught hold of her hands. The woman constable fought against the boys who were in their mid-20s, and they ran when they realized that she was a Police constable.

The lady then registered an FIR against the three persons, who incidentally lived in her locality only. She later agreed to take back her complaint, after the intermediation of some people but by then the matter reached the Delhi High Court for quashing of FIR, wherein Justice Pratibha Rani, refusing to quash the FIR said, ‘if a woman police officer can't walk on the street what will happen to common girls?’

A report submitted by Delhi Police, also highlighted the fact that crime against women has increased by 16 percent in the capital. Reportedly, Delhi logged over 3,450 cases of molestation and 1,024 cases of eve-teasing this year against 2,544 and 793 cases last year. The number of rapes in the national capital has also increased, rising from 1,330 last year to 1,794 this year.

Justice Pratibha Rani, also said, "You were alone that time (when the accused were molesting the constable). Now, we will teach them a good lesson so that they will be afraid to do so again."

You may read more of our coverage on crime against women here.