Four men, including three serving Rajasthan police personnel, have been booked for allegedly raping a woman constable in Churu district, following a complaint she submitted to senior police officials. The woman has alleged that the sexual assault occurred in 2017 during her posting at the Sardarshahar police station.
Acting on her complaint, police registered an FIR at Siddhmukh police station against the accused then Station House Officer (SHO) Sub-Inspector Subhash, two constables identified as Ravindra and Jaiveer, and a civilian named Vikki.
Police officials confirmed that the case has been registered and that an investigation is underway. While the accused policemen have been named in the FIR, no arrests have been announced so far.
The complainant, who is currently under suspension for alleged indiscipline in an unrelated matter, is cooperating with the investigation, officials said, adding that due legal procedure will be followed.
FIR Filed After Complaint
According to police sources, the woman constable approached the Churu Superintendent of Police earlier this week with a written complaint, alleging that she was sexually assaulted by the four men in 2017. At the time of the alleged incident, she was posted at the Sardarshahar police station, where Sub-Inspector Subhash was serving as the SHO, and the other two accused policemen were posted as constables.
The fourth accused, identified as Vikki, is a civilian who was allegedly known to the accused policemen. Siddhmukh SHO Imran Khan confirmed that an FIR has been registered at his police station based on the complaint. “The case has been registered and is being investigated,” he said, adding that all allegations will be examined as per the law.
Police officials have stated that statements will be recorded, and evidence will be collected to ascertain the sequence of events and the roles allegedly played by each accused. They reiterated that the accused are innocent until proven guilty and that the investigation will proceed in a fair and impartial manner.
Delayed Allegations and Institutional Context
The alleged incident dates back nearly nine years, raising questions about delayed reporting a common but complex issue in cases of sexual violence, particularly when the accused allegedly hold positions of authority. Survivors, experts note, often face immense psychological, professional, and social barriers when the alleged perpetrators are colleagues or seniors within the same institution.
In this case, the woman constable has alleged that the assault took place while she was on duty and posted at the police station, a workplace that should have ensured her safety. Police officials have not elaborated on why the complaint was filed years after the alleged incident, stating that the matter forms part of the investigation.
Meanwhile, it has emerged that the complainant is currently under suspension for alleged indiscipline in a separate matter. Officials clarified that her suspension is unrelated to the rape complaint, but the development has nonetheless sparked concern among rights advocates about how institutional actions can impact survivors who come forward.
The case has once again drawn attention to the broader issue of workplace safety for women in uniform and the challenges faced by women personnel within male-dominated forces.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Allegations of sexual violence within the police force are deeply unsettling, not only because of the gravity of the crime alleged but also because they involve individuals entrusted with upholding the law.
While it is essential to reiterate that the accused are alleged perpetrators and are entitled to due process and a fair investigation, it is equally vital that the complainant is treated with dignity, sensitivity, and empathy.
Delayed complaints should not automatically invite suspicion or judgement, especially in environments where power imbalances and fear of retaliation may silence survivors for years. Institutions must introspect on whether their internal mechanisms genuinely encourage reporting or inadvertently discourage it.
