Goa Police Inspector and woman arrested in sexual exploitation case of minor

Goa Police on Wednesday arrested a 40-year-old suspended Police Inspector and a woman for allegedly sexually exploiting a minor. It has emerged that the incident took place at the Cyber Crime Police Station. The arrested police officer has been identified as Vikas Deykar, while the woman accused is 37-year-old Rajni Palekar.

According to a Hindustan Times report, the victim minor stated in her complaint that on July 25 and October 27 of this year, when she visited the Cyber Crime Police Station, she was asked to remove her clothes and was touched inappropriately. There are serious allegations that she was sexually exploited on two separate occasions in this manner.

North Goa Superintendent of Police Rahul Gupta stated in a statement that both the accused had previously cooperated in the investigation following the notice issued under Section 35(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023. However, when they were further interrogated on Wednesday, significant contradictions were found in their statements. Both the accused failed to provide satisfactory explanations regarding critical aspects of the case.

SP Rahul Gupta further added that the arrests were made considering the evidence collected during the investigation, their alleged involvement in the crime, lack of cooperation, and the necessity of custodial interrogation. Additionally, the police suspected that if they were not arrested, they might influence witnesses and tamper with the evidence.

Vikas Deykar was serving as a Police Inspector in the Cyber Crime division of the Crime Branch. He had already been suspended after a First Information Report (FIR) was registered against him. Police officers have initiated strict legal proceedings in this case.

A police officer attached to the Old Goa Police Station stated that a case has been registered against Deykar and Palekar under Section 75 (sexual exploitation), Section 127 (wrongful confinement), Section 49 (abetting a crime), and Section 61(2)(a) (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. These sections have been read along with Section 3(5) of the BNS and Sections 10 and 12 of the POCSO Act.

The entire incident has sparked debate due to the mistreatment of a minor at a place considered secure, such as a police station. The police are currently conducting further investigations into the matter to link all clues of the crime and ensure justice for the victim.