18 May,2009 07:57 AM IST | | Kranti Vibhute
Despite constant reminders from the police, the forensic laboratory has not submitted u00a0reports, bringing the case to a standstill; accused lodged in Arthur Road jail
It's been four months since five-year-old Shruti Naik (name changed) was allegedly raped by a watchman at her All-India Balkan-ji-Bari School, Santacruz, but her medical report is still awaited from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) at Kalina.u00a0
The school watchman, Gulabchandra Yadav, is in Arthur Road jail at present after a complaint was lodged against him by Shruti's parents at the Santacruz police station on January 19. While the charge sheet has already been filed by the Santacruz police, they are clueless about the medical report.
Waiting for report
Vilas More, assistant police inspector and investigation officer of the case, said, "Even we are waiting for the medical report. We have been sending the forensic lab constant reminders, but the lab takes time to submit reports."u00a0u00a0
Added Niket Kaushik, DCP Zone IX, "I would not like to comment on the forensic department. They have their own system of working and limitations. There is no fixed time for a medical report to be submitted."
N Garad, director, FSL, was not available for comment.
Shruti's parents have been patiently waiting for the medical report, but are losing hope. "God alone knows whether the medical report will come out and if we will get any justice," said her mother Sheela.
Brother harmless
Yadav's brother Phulchand claims that his brother could not have indulged in such a heinous crime. "The incident could have taken place outside the school premises. My brother is innocent. He's scared of an ant, how can he rape anyone? Whenever I go to meet him, he's in tears and swears on his kids that he didn't rape anyone," he said, adding that once his brother is proved innocent, he will not allow him to work in the city.
Phulchand has spent Rs 40,000 towards Yadav's bail application, but since his lawyer is out of town, the application is to be processed.u00a0
New beginningu00a0
Meanwhile, Sheela is eagerly waiting for schools to reopen so that she can secure admission for her five-year-old. "Since January, we stopped Shruti from going to school, but she constantly keeps asking about school. She didn't appear for her final exams and I'm a bit worried about her admission to a new school," said the mother.
Sheela has approached a couple of schools, but has told principals that her daughter was been unable to attend exams, as she was unwell. "I cannot narrate what happened to my child to every school authority I meet," said Sheela.
The story
On January 15, around 9.30 am, Shruti was seated in her class at the All India Balkan-ji-Bari School, Santacruz, watching a movie that was being screened along with other students. She stepped out in the middle of the movie to drink water. When Yadav saw the girl alone in the corridor, he escorted her to the school's administration office and allegedly raped her.
