'18 Arrested, Chargesheet Yet To Be Filed': Delhi Police To High Court On 2020 Gargi College Molestation Case

The Delhi Police on Friday informed the High Court that 18 persons were arrested in the 2020 Gargi College molestation case and that the filing of chargesheet has got delayed on account of COVID-19 pandemic.

A division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad was hearing a public interest litigation filed by Advocate ML Sharma seeking CBI Inquiry into alleged instances of molestation and sexual misconduct inside the college campus.

The court was informed by prosecution counsel Nandita Rao that a total of 450 people have been investigated, adding that all the CCTV footage has been seized in the matter.

Rao further informed the court that statements of the girls have been recorded under Section 161 of Code of Criminal Procedure. It was also informed there was a delay in filing of the chargesheet on account of COVID-19 as the girls had gone to their respective hometowns.

She added that efforts are being taken to record their statements under Section 164 of CrPC.

Accordingly, the bench granted four weeks time to the Delhi Police for filing a response in the matter as a last indulgence, while listing the matter for hearing on January 18, 2023.

During the hearing, the court orally asked the police to file the chargesheet in the matter irrespective of the delay, to which Rao replied that the same will be done within a period of six weeks.

The plea was filed in the wake of alleged instances of molestation and sexual misconduct that took place on February 6, 2020 inside the college campus during their annual cultural fest 'Reverie 2020'.

Sharma in his plea claimed that the said instances were carried out under a "planned conspiracy by the political parties" for "securing political game in Delhi election voting."

Citing alleged inaction by city police and college administration, the plea said: "The men came in trucks and entered the campus around 4:30 pm during the fest. They continued to harass the girls for several hours and the ordeal continued till around 9 pm...Despite complaints being made by multiple students, no one called the police and asked for the arrest of the wrongdoers."

Title: MANOHAR LAL SHARMA v. CENTRAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (C.B.I) & ORS.