By Rajesh Pandey
The Allahabad High Court has dismissed a petition filed by suspended Station House Officer (SHO) Dinesh Kumar Verma, who sought to quash criminal proceedings and a summoning order issued by the CBI court in Ghaziabad.
The case pertains to the 2020 Hathras gang rape and murder of a 19-year-old Dalit woman, where Verma is accused of dereliction of duty.
Justice Raj Beer Singh, while rejecting the plea, sharply criticized the officer’s conduct, citing procedural lapses and a disturbing lack of sensitivity in handling a case involving a young woman who was a victim of sexual assault and later died from her injuries.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has named Verma in its chargesheet under Sections 166A(b) and (c) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which relate to a public servant’s failure to record information regarding sexual offences, as mandated under Section 154 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).
He has also been charged under Section 167 of the IPC for allegedly fabricating official records with the intent to cause harm.
According to the chargesheet, Verma failed in his duty to protect the dignity of the victim. He allegedly allowed media personnel to access the police station and record videos and photographs of the victim.
It is further alleged that he recorded a video of the victim on his mobile phone, but did not arrange for a medical examination despite her reporting sexual assault.
Instead of arranging a police vehicle or ambulance to transport the critically injured woman to the hospital, Verma reportedly compelled her family to use a shared auto-rickshaw, even though official vehicles were available.
The CBI also accused Verma of directing the entry of false information into the police station’s general diary. These entries claimed that a female constable had been sent to examine the victim, although the constable reportedly arrived after the victim had already been taken to the hospital.
Furthermore, despite visible injuries, records falsely stated that the victim had no wounds, and a formal complaint based on her statement was not registered.
Despite these findings, Verma’s legal counsel argued that there was no evidence of misconduct. The defense maintained that the officer acted calmly in a tense situation, did not mistrust the victim’s family, and sent her to the hospital promptly.
They also claimed that his failure to respond to the victim’s use of the word “jabardasti” (force) was a human error, not willful negligence.
However, the court, after examining witness testimonies, the complainant’s statement, general diary entries, and CCTV footage from the police station, concluded that there was enough prima facie evidence to proceed with the criminal case against Verma. The court issued its order on April 25.
The 2020 Hathras case had sparked national outrage.
The 19-year-old Dalit woman was allegedly gang-raped and later died of her injuries. Her late-night cremation by authorities, reportedly against the wishes of her family, led to widespread protests and judicial scrutiny.
The Allahabad High Court had, at that time, initiated suo motu proceedings to examine the fundamental right to dignified last rites, particularly in light of the victim’s caste and the state’s handling of the situation.
