Calcutta High Court Directs IPS Officer Damayanti Sen To Oversee Probe Into 4 Recent Rape Cases In West Bengal

The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday asked IPS officer Damayanti Sen to oversee the probe in Deganga, Matia, Ingrejbazar and Banshdroni rape cases.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Prakash Srivastava and Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj observed that considering the nature of the incidents and the allegations made, a responsible senior lady police officer should be appointed to supervise the investigation.

The Court's remarks are believed to have been made in the wake of an investigation into the Park Street rape case a decade ago.

"..considering the material pointed out to us, we direct that the investigation of the incidents at village Nehalpur, Nandipara, incident on Dol Purnima noted above as also the incident of rape at English Bazar will be done under the supervision of Smt. Damayanti Sen, IPS presently working as Special Commissioner of Police to Kolkata Police. If Smt. Sen has any difficulty in supervising the investigation, she will be at liberty to indicate the same to this court on the next date of hearing", the Court directed. 

IPS officer Damayanti Sen, now the special commissioner of Calcutta police, was the intelligence chief of the Calcutta police during the Park Street gang-rape case that took place a decade ago. She was the investigating officer of the incident.

On the last date of hearing, the Court had granted leave to the petitioners to suggest the name of a high ranking police officer under whose supervision, the investigation can be carried out. 

On Tuesday, a supplementary affidavit had been filed by the petitioners suggesting the name of  IPS officer Damayanti Sen for supervising the investigation. It was submitted that taking into account her past performance and her independent way of working in earlier investigations, they have full faith that under her supervision, proper investigation will be done.

Advocate General S.N Mookherjee was also ordered to file a report in the form of affidavit in respect of the progress of investigation in all the above incidents on the next date of hearing which is slated to take place on April 20.

During the proceedings, the Advocate General had informed that in respect of the rape of a minor girl at Matia, in North 24-Parganas' Basirhat, the statement of the victim under Section 164 CrPC will be recorded today. He also pointed out the opinion of the medical specialist to the effect that the victim is oriented to time, place and person and is in a fit condition to give the statement. 

In respect of the incident at Nandipara, Kuchenkora area the Advocate General has submitted that the culprit has been arrested and his confessional statement has been recorded.

In respect of another incident of rape of a minor girl on the day of Dol Purnima, the Advocate General has apprised the Court  that two persons have been apprehended, one of them is minor and that the statement of victim under Section 164 CrPC  has been recorded. He has also submitted that medical examination of the victim as also the accused has been done and the protection as directed by the Court has been extended.

Case Title: Sumitra Bhattacharyya v. State of West Bengal and other connected matters

Case Citation: 2022 LiveLaw (Cal) 115

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