A senior police officer has been found not guilty of indecent assault charges involving a female police officer, according to a recent ruling by Magistrate Yogesh Prasad. The case revolved around incidents alleged to have occurred in 2017 and 2018, during which the officer, in charge of the Police Band, was accused of inappropriate behavior towards the complainant, who served as a member of his team.
The prosecution claimed that during a visit to the band’s office in June 2017, the officer hugged the complainant tightly and kissed her on the cheek. Similar allegations surfaced regarding an encounter in March 2018, where he again hugged her from the side and repeated the kiss. The complainant expressed discomfort during both interactions. However, under cross-examination, she admitted to reporting these incidents only in 2021, a factors that the defense highlighted to challenge the timing of her allegations.
Magistrate Prasad’s ruling underscored concerns regarding the significant delay between the alleged incidents and the reporting of them. He indicated that as a police officer herself, the complainant should have been well-versed with the appropriate reporting procedures, which raised doubts about her credibility. The magistrate remarked that the lack of a valid explanation for her delayed report weakened her claims. Furthermore, he noted that there was no evidence to suggest that the complainant faced any coercion or undue influence, as she had maintained a professional relationship with the accused throughout the process.
While corroborating evidence is not an essential requirement for a conviction, the magistrate pointed out that testimony from another complainant could have potentially strengthened the prosecution’s case. Additionally, observations made during the complainant’s testimony indicated moments of evasiveness, further diminishing her reliability as a witness.
Ultimately, after a thorough evaluation of the presented evidence, the court determined that reasonable doubt existed regarding the allegations, resulting in the officer’s acquittal. This decision not only highlights the intricacies surrounding cases of alleged misconduct but also emphasizes the critical importance of timely and credible reporting within legal proceedings, reflecting the challenges faced by individuals navigating such sensitive situations.