Goa Police Arrests Suspended Inspector and Accomplice in Minor Sexual Assault Case

Arrests Made in Goa Cyber Crime Case

In a significant operation on Wednesday, Goa Police apprehended suspended Inspector Vikas Deykar and his accomplice, Rajni Palekar, in connection with an alleged sexual assault on a minor at the Cyber Crime Police Station. The victim reported that during her visits to the police station on July 25 and October 27 of this year, she was coerced into undressing and subjected to inappropriate and lewd behavior. This revelation has sparked widespread outrage among the public and within administrative circles.

Superintendent of Police Rahul Gupta from North Goa issued an official statement indicating that both suspects were summoned for questioning under Section 35(3) of the Indian National Security Code (BNSS), 2023. During the interrogation, significant contradictions were found in their statements, and they failed to provide satisfactory explanations regarding critical aspects of the case. Given the evidence collected during the investigation, their suspected involvement in the crime, lack of cooperation, potential witness tampering, and evidence manipulation, the police formally arrested both individuals.

It is important to note that Deykar was serving as a police inspector in the Cyber Crime Division and had already been suspended following the filing of the case. An officer from the Old Goa Police Station revealed that criminal charges have been filed against the inspector and the woman under serious sections of the Indian Penal Code (BNS), 2023, including Section 75 (sexual harassment), 127 (wrongful confinement), 49 (instigation to commit a crime), and 61(2)(a) (criminal conspiracy), along with Sections 10 and 12 of the POCSO Act.