Fake FIR circulated in ‘rape’ case against CM’s pol secy: Sikkim Police

Gangtok: The copy of the ‘FIR’ shared on social media regarding the alleged rape case against Sikkim CM’s political secretary Jacob Khaling does not match the one received by the SP east, Sikkim Police clarified.

The Sikkim Police, however, failed to admit whether the FIR was indeed circulated by an insider in the department.

The proceedings for interrogation were initiated on July 16, after the alleged complainant Doncee Lama was interrogated.

Sikkim Police DIG (Range) Prawin Gurung in a press conference at Sikkim Police Headquarters on August 24, maintained, “The complainant denied of having posted the letter or about the contents of the FIR including the rape allegation. It was flatly denied, her statements were recorded. It was purported to have been written by a third party, the SP was satisfied with the investigation conclusion of the FIR to have been fabricated and the complaint was closed on July 22.”

Superintendent of Police (East) Siva Prasad Yellasiri, to whom the fake FIR was directed, said, “When the victim was the signature holder and she was the one holding the grievances, it becomes imperative that we call her first, to hear her grievances. Without calling her, we cannot call the accused. First and foremost I have to find if what the victim is saying is true or not, without cross-checking I cannot call the accused, that would amount to harassing him. We can’t harass someone without cross-checking the facts. He will feel humiliated and he will go against me if I am interrogated. Thereafter, the victim comes and admits she didn’t complain, it would be inciting. When she denied, there lays no precedence in calling him for interrogation. I cannot take a third person’s complaint and interrogate would not be allowed. It would have to be a personal complaint. Another person has no business in the matter, if it’s molestation charges the complainant is the one who has to come.”

Also read | Sikkim: “Rape allegations an attempt to tarnish my image,” says Jacob Khaling

Taking reference to the victim’s complaint against Sikkim Nagrik Samaj involving the trio of Tseten Tashi, Bharat Basnet and Passang Sherpa. The Sikkim Police maintained that Sherpa took the aid of a fake FIR involving victim Doncee Lama and CM’s Political Secretary Jacob Khaling, holding a press conference on August 21. They failed to admit whether the trio would be arrested, claiming the investigation to be underway.

Yellasiri went on to add, “The fake FIR was circulated in various mediums which was not signed by the Superintendent of Police. The letter was directed towards me with the victim’s signature also forged just to defame her and outrage her modesty.

Thereafter, the victim filed an FIR with IPC sections for cheating by impersonation 419 IPC, forgery for harming reputation 469 IPC, punishment for defamation 500 IPC and 34 IPC. We have summoned Tseten Tashi, Bharat Basnet and Pasang Sherpa to record their statements, the investigation is underway”.

Yellasiri asserted that the FIR circulated to be indeed fake. He stated, “It’s a fake thing whoever has posted it, is because of the design, the photocopy of which was released to the media. But to pursue an investigation against that fake FIR, someone has to complain. Now the victim has complained so we are pursuing the investigation. She has maintained that she had no knowledge that such a complaint existed. Only when it came in the social media then there was a complaint”.

Sikkim Police went on to add that a discreet investigation is underway to identify the origin of the fake FIR. Upon the circulation of the FIR, Sikkim Police attempted to blame the social media, while claiming no statements were taken by the media from the Sikkim Police about the fake FIR. Sikkim Police maintained only a few media houses including East Mojo to be the ones to take the Sikkim Police’s perspective on the fake FIR. Media fraternity in Sikkim defended their best attempts at reaching the officials including DIG Range Prawin Gurung, the spokesperson for Sikkim Police flatly denied giving statements on August 21, claiming the investigation to be ‘premature.

Sikkim Police defended itself on the investigation to be non-partial and being carried out discreetly, despite widespread criticism by people in Sikkim.