All India Democratic Women's Association president Subhashini Ali and CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat on Thursday met the woman law student in the Shahjahanpur jail where she has been lodged since her arrest by the SIT on Wednesday morning.
The woman was arrested for allegedly trying to extort Rs 5 crore from BJP leader Swami Chinmayanand, held on charges of sexually exploiting her.
Later speaking to the media on the missing evidence (such as the spectacle camera and the chip) that the woman had highlighted in her complaint, Ali said, "There was evidence in the hostel room which was not accessible to the victim. It was sealed in front of the SIT. The SIT has said that certain evidences such as the spectacle camera have either been destroyed or gone missing. But the victim cannot be blamed for any of it because she could not enter the premises."
She demanded that a case be filed against the management of the college for destruction of evidence.
The student had alleged that she was raped and physically exploited for over a year by Chinmayanand, who was arrested last week and remanded to judicial custody for 14 days.
There was also criticism for the manner in which the SIT had arrested the woman on Wednesday. Her father and brother alleged that she was dragged by the officials and was not even permitted to change her clothes or wear her slippers before the team took her away. Technically though, the woman was under house arrest, watched round the clock by eight police personnel. Anyone who went to meet her had to give their name, address and phone number.
"We condemn the behaviour adopted by the SIT when they went to get the girl,” Ali said.
She also suggested that the local police consider filing charges under 375 (a) and 375 (b) against Chinmayanand and cautioned the media on the inherently unequal nature of the persons involved in the case.
Ali said, "It will be a grave injustice if we try to weigh both the parties in the same way".
"The accused has a history. He is a repeat offender and hence this charge should be taken more seriously and justice be ensured," she said.
