NEW DELHI, January 22: The National Human Rights Commission has directed the Delhi Police Commissioner to register a case against one of its inspectors and his son under the Dowry (Prevention) Act, and complete the investigation within 90 days.According to sources, the directions were issued after a year-long investigations against Rati Ram, an inspector posted earlier with the Crime Branch and his son, Rohit, for allegedly demanding dowry during the latter's engagement ceremony in 1995.
According to the officials, Rati Ram and his wife were asking for a car and other valuables. The demands were accepted by the girls' father. A day before the engagement ceremony, Rohit had called the girl's father and demanded Rs one lakh from him. He repeated the demand when they were about to be engaged. This infuriated the girls' father and he broke the engagement.Later, he lodged a complaint against the Rati Ram.
In the meantime, Rohit married another girl and Rati Ram filed a counter complaint at the NHRC against
the girl's father, stating that he has refused to return the jewellery given to his daughter on the day of the engagement. He also lodged a criminal complaint against the girl in a city court, which in turn issued warrants against her in April last year. However, these could not be served as the girl was in Jammu with her husband.
Later, the NHRC ordered an enquiry into the incident by the anti-dowry cell of the Delhi Police. After that the case was transferred to the vigilance branch, but finally the NHRC took over and gave a decision on January 8.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
