123 Kolkata: A magistrate of a Barasat court on Monday reprimanded an investigating officer (IO) of Rajarhat PS following an allegation that an accused had been assaulted in police custody. The IO himself has been accused of the alleged assault. The latter has denied the accusation.
According to police sources, one Samir Kumar Mondal filed a complaint of financial fraud at Rajarhat PS on July 30. Based on this complaint, the police arrested two persons, who have since been granted bail by a Barasat court.
On Nov 30, police arrested another youth, Dilbar Hossain, in connection with the case. He was remanded in police custody. On Saturday, Hossain was produced in the court, where his lawyer, Tirthankar Paul, informed the judge that his client was repeatedly assaulted in custody. "Hossain was arrested as a co-accused. His latest medical report indicated signs of injuries, suggesting that he was assaulted in custody. As I revealed this in court, the judge noticed his injuries and admonished the IO. My client was then granted bail," Paul told TOI.
Hossain said, " I am being falsely implicated. In custody, the IO demanded Rs 4 lakh from me, saying I would be released if I paid. When I refused, I was beaten up in the dark."
The IO said: "These claims are being made to tarnish my image."A Bidhannagar Commissionerate officer said: "The accused has admitted to defrauding people of Rs 4 lakh. There's a video of this confession. He was instructed to return it, but now he is weaving such stories instead."
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