Top cop stirs row, says girl filed case after accused refused to marry her

LUCKNOW: Hours after the horrific crime in Unnao district, inspector general of police (Lucknow range) S K Bhagat courted controversy on Thursday when he said that the woman who was assaulted and set on fire was into a relationship with the main accused, Shivam Trivedi, and had filed a rape case against him after he refused to marry her.
“The girl was friends with the main accused, Shivam Trivedi, who physically exploited her and promised to marry her, but later reneged on it.He even signed some agreement to marry her but later refused, after which the girl lodged a case of rape against him,” Bhagat told newspersons. Bhagat’s boss, UP DGP O P Singh, said it was a “systemic failure” of criminal justice system when reporters pointed out to him that Shivam was released on bail in the rape case just five days before Thursday’s crime.
“It is systemic failure of criminal justice system. One of the four compartments of criminal justice system, including prisons, prosecution and judiciary, is definitely at fault. But it’s not fair on my part to put blame on any one part of the system. But the fact that the accused was ar
rested then given bail cannot be ignored,” said Singh. Singh said police “must have” opposed the bail plea of the accused and termed the incident very unfortunate. “Our priority now is to save the life of the girl. Her statement has been taken in the presence of a judicial officer,” Singh added.