Following a complaint filed by child rights activist and director of Sakhee, Anjali Pawar, against police officers with regard to the rape of a minor girl in February this year, a special court ordered that summons be served to inspector Suhas Garud and assistant inspector Sanjay Ahiwale, under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, and section 166A of CrPC.

The court issued the decree following deputy superintendent of police MP Karade’s report in September, which stated that PI Suhas Garud and investigating officer API Sanjay Ahiwale failed to perform their duty, and showed negligence in registering the complaint.

The report also observed that the officers’ lackadaisical attitude helped the criminals flee.MiD DAY had reported on March 5 (‘Police register offence 11 days after minor was allegedly raped’) how Lonikalbhor police station officials were reluctant to register the complaint of a girl, who was allegedly raped by an unknown person on her way home.

The teenager, who was deeply traumatised after the incident, mustered the courage and approached Lonikalbhor cops, only to be asked by a constable to come with her parents.

Moreover, API Ahiwale even made her sign a statement that unidentified boys only passed obscene remarks, and did not rape her, as per media reports. Following this, Anjali Pawar, who had filed her complaint the police officers.