Assault victim's FIR not registered, instead police books the complainant in Madhya Pradesh

Correspondent

NewsBits.in

BHOPAL: The MP police didn't register the case when its own staff was accused of brutally assaulting and injuring a man but now it has taken action against the complainant. 

Strange it may seem but instead of registering FIR on his complaint, the victim--Deepak Bundele has now been booked. 

This incident had occurred in Betul in the last week of March. Though Bundele, a lawyer, who is severely diabetic had got injuries in the assault and he had approached the local police station, but FIR was not registered.

He had subsequently written to senior officials as well but there was no action. Worse, two policemen had reached his home, urging him to withdraw the complaint, claiming that a particular policeman is 'kattar' (fundamentalist) and may have hit him because of 'mistaken identity'. 

They told him that due to his beard, he appeared a Muslim and hence got beaten but he shouldn't hold grudge. A recording of this conversation, led to a nationwide storm. The policemen ordered an inquiry too. Still, no FIR was registered in the case of assault with Bundele. He, meanwhile, approached the High Court.

READ: Severely diabetic lawyer beaten up by police, fears loss of hearing, writes to CJI

Suddenly, the police after a period of more than three months, booked Bundele. A case under sections 294, 353 and 188 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been registered against him. It is noteworthy that after the assault, the victim was bleeding and had been administered medication.

When he couldn't get even the FIR registered through proper procedure, he sought footage of CCTV cameras around, to prove that he was assaulted. But, the policemen didn't provide him the footage and it was claimed that the footage was no longer available. 

Now, the FIR against Bundele has come almost 100 days after the incident. Several social organisations, writers and people from different sections of the society, have condemned the action. In yet another development, the court has granted him anticipatory bail.