NT Reporter
Panaji
Goa police department on Saturday placed under suspension police inspector (PI) Vikas Deykar of the Crime Branch police, Ribandar, against whom Old Goa police has registered a First Information Report (FIR) for allegedly sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl.
Following his suspension, Deykar has been asked to report to Goa Reserve Police (GRP) at Altinho, Panaji, a senior police officer told The Navhind Times.
“We have a zero tolerance policy for misconduct, and immediate action is taken. In this case, legal and departmental action has already been initiated,” said Director General of Police (DGP) Alok Kumar while responding to media queries over the involvement of Deykar in the alleged sexual assault incident.
Deykar appeared before the Old Goa police on Saturday and his statements have been recorded, police said adding that, if required, Deykar will be called again for questioning.
The alleged incidents took place inside the PI’s cabin at the Crime Branch in Ribandar on two separate occasions, July 25 and October 27. Along with Deykar, a woman has also been booked for allegedly facilitating the offences.
Sources said the PI’s cabin is equipped with a high-definition CCTV camera, which was deliberately covered at the time of the incident. The Crime Branch police station is equipped with high-definition CCTV cameras, which are also installed in
the cabins.
The victim originally came into contact with the officer a couple of years ago when he was holding charge as Cyber Crime PI in Ribandar. The woman booked in the case had accompanied the minor to the Cyber Crime police station at that time to lodge a complaint, after which the police took action.
However, the officer reportedly called the minor to the Crime Branch recently in connection with that cyber crime case. Sources said the same woman accompanied the minor again and was made to wait outside while the officer and the minor were inside the cabin.
Following a complaint filed, the Old Goa police registered an FIR under Sections 75, 127, 49 and 61(2)(a) read with Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, alongside Sections 10 and 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Meanwhile, the Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (GSCPCR) has directed the child welfare committee to ensure the safety and protection of the victim in the alleged molestation case filed at Old Goa police station against the Crime Branch PI.
The GSCPCR will seek investigation report from the Old Goa police station, chairman Shashikant Punaji said.
