Police asked to file status report on attack on JNU teacher

The Patiala House Court, here on Tuesday, sought the status report from the crime branch of the Delhi Police on a plea filed by a JNU professor seeking registration of an FIR against the masked people who allegedly attacked her during the January 5 campus violence."Let a status report be called from the crime branch within seven days from today (Tuesday), mentioning the details of the FIR and the action taken pursuant to it," said Metropolitan Magistrate Vipul Sandwar.Pujari, Tara Narula and Kriti Awasthi, then moved the court on January 13 seeking registration of an FIR, following which the police were asked to file an action-taken report by March 25.

The Patiala House Court, here on Tuesday, sought the status report from the crime branch of the Delhi Police on a plea filed by a JNU professor seeking registration of an FIR against the masked people who allegedly attacked her during the January 5 campus violence.

"Let a status report be called from the crime branch within seven days from today (Tuesday), mentioning the details of the FIR and the action taken pursuant to it," said Metropolitan Magistrate Vipul Sandwar.

The matter has been listed to May 18 for hearing. The Metropolitan Magistrate decided to hear the matter following an early hearing plea filed by Sucharita Sen who had received head injuries in the violence on the campus.

Sen had sought lodging of an FIR by asserting that the case evidence was in the nature of data, which could be tampered with and that four months had elapsed since the violence.

During the proceeding, the Additional Public Prosecutor said, as per the status report, a case, FIR no 06/2020 under section 145/147/148/506/34 of the IPC and section 3 of the DPDP Act PS Vasant Kunj North, had been registered. It was transferred to the crime branch, the APP added.

Meanwhile, advocate Adit S. Pujari told the court the police had not taken any action or registered the FIR.

"The fact (about transfer of case) was known on January 10 and that's why our prayer in the application states the crime branch be directed to file the FIR. The case that was transferred to the crime branch was a separate FIR," he told .

In January, after the attack, Sen had filed a complaint with the Station House Officer (SHO), Vasant Kunj North, and sought registration of an FIR for offence like attempt to murder, rioting and mischief. But no action was taken by the police, she said.

Sen, through advocates Adit S. Pujari, Tara Narula and Kriti Awasthi, then moved the court on January 13 seeking registration of an FIR, following which the police were asked to file an action-taken report by March 25. But the matter was adjourned till June due the coronavirus pandemic.

She had moved the application seeking FIR to be immediately registered on account of orders passed by the Delhi High Court in January, directing an expeditious investigation.

( With inputs from IANS )