Manager on the run after raping software engineer

NEW DELHI: Allegedly raped, beaten and threatened, 26-year-old software engineer Paritra (name changed) is still running from pillar to post to get justice. Paritra was allegedly raped on August 18 last year by Shiwalik Ghosh, 35-year-old senior manager of an automobile company, after he promised to marry her. She had met the accused after exchanging information over a matrimonial site. She was allegedly served cold drinks laced with sedatives before the accused sexually assaulted her.

Almost a month later, she was severely beaten up by Shiwalik and his mother Chaitali Ghosh, inside his car and then abandoned on an empty street. She was then hospitalized for months and had to undergo treatment for severe depression. Though a case was registered - as late as December 3 - in this regard, and a chargesheet filed on January 11, the accused is still absconding. If Ghosh does not surrender by March 3, he will reportedly be declared a proclaimed offender.

Meanwhile, the victim's woes continue. A day after the chargesheet was filed, she was allegedly intercepted by two bike-borne goons in south Delhi's Moti Bagh area on January 12 when she was looking for a PG accommodation and beaten up. "I was rushed to Safdurjung Hospital by a PCR van and received a fracture in my left hand apart from several other injuries on my body. A case was registered at Dhaula Kuan police station in this incident. A few days later, I was threatened and beaten up by Shiwalik on two occasions near my home in Noida," said Paritra. A case of voluntarily causing hurt, criminal intimidation and intention to insult was registered in Gautam Buddha Nagar.

SSP Noida Amitabh Yash said, "We have filed a chargesheet in the matter and are hunting for the accused. I am not aware of the case registered in Gautam Buddha Nagar."

Despite multiple cases in Noida and Delhi, the police simply claim the accused cannot be traced. But the victim says that irrespective of whatever police say the fact remains that the accused is very much in the town and continues to threaten her. "Though Shiwalik's company located in Dharuerah near Gurgaon claims he has been sacked, I know that he still comes to work. He has highly-placed connections and his company is shielding him from the police. The court also sent the chargesheet to Gurgaon police but the accused remains at large. My life is at risk. I have already been beaten up thrice at his instance. I had to spend three months in hospital," claimed Paritra.

Despite police's repeated avowals to treat crimes against women with extreme urgency, Paritra's situation reflects the ground situation with the combined police force of Delhi, UP and Haryana proving unable to track down the accused, who, according to the victim, continues to threaten her.