'Investigating Officer Not Taking Steps To Conduct DNA Test Of Foetus': Pregnant Rape Survivor Alleges Before Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court on Thursday heard a woman, who became pregnant pursuant to a sexual assault on her, accusing the investigating officer of not taking steps to conduct the DNA test of her foetus. 

The primary allegation was that under the guise of complying with the Court's previous interim order to provide her police protection from another police station instead of the one where the crime was registered, the IO was not taking steps required for carrying out the DNA test.

After hearing the grievances, Justice Devan Ramachandran observed:

"...pendency of the matter or the interim order passed in it will not stand in the way of appropriate investigation and necessary action being conducted and done in the case."

The survivor informed the Bench that she did not wish to continue with the pregnancy and that steps in furtherance of that have to be taken by the IO of the case. However, he was reluctant to do so.

The Court had ordered police protection to her after she claimed that two officers, including the SHO of the concerned police station were harassing her in collaboration with the accused. Due to this, she even had to go into hiding and was residing with a close relative of hers.

The matter will be taken up again on November 26th.

Advocates C. Dheeraj Rajan and Anand Kalyanakrishnan appeared for the petitioner in the matter.

Case Title: XXX v. State of Kerala