Amboli PS supporting Ullu CEO Vibhu Agarwal: Male IO favoring accused, FIR watered down?

MUMBAI: Nari Adhikar, a Malwani, Mumbai-based social forum has claimed that as per Supreme Court guidelines, molestation, rape and cases pertaining to children should be handed over to Women police officers to ensure that the victims are not victimized a second time during the investigation process.

However in case of the molestation complaint against the CEO of Ullu Digital Pvt Ltd., Mr Vibhu Agarwal by a 28-year-old complainant at the Amboli police station in suburban Mumbai, the case has been handed over to a male IO (investigating officer), who has been making the complainant victim feel very uncomfortable and being victimized a second time, said a social worker with Nari Adhikar.

“The victim confided in me that the IO is not interested in bringing the accused to justice. He seems to be only hell-bent on saving the skin of the accused CEO Vibhu Agarwal and the Country Head Anjali Raina. I have mentioned several aspects to him, which were not included in my statement, the IPC sections corresponding to those allegations are not added to the FIR, the police say was also diluted, thus enabling the accused CEO Vibhu Agarwal and Anjali Raina to get interim anticipatory bail,” a friend of the complainant victim told this reporter.

The victim’s friend who is a senior journalist, said: On three days 18, 19 and 21st June, both the accused called the victim to the office and kept me locked in a cabin for several hours at a stretch without food or water. The victim was not allowed to even go to the toilet. This constitutes sections for wrongful restraint, besides others, which have not been added to the FIR.

“Now, the IO is insisting the victim call her extended family members all the way from Dehradun to record their statements. These persons are not at all connected with the case and are unnecessarily being summoned from a far away place. The victim is being treated like an accused, by the Amboli police officials, while the real accused Mr Vibhu Agarwal and Ms Anjali Raina were able to secure interim anticipatory bail – a new concept in the Law of Bails,” said the victim’s friend, adding “it is obvious that the cops at Amboli Police Station have been paid huge sums of money by the accused persons.

The victim/complainant sent a written complaint with regard to the above allegations to the Mumbai Police Commissioner, the Jt CP (Crime) and the zonal DCP on Friday. A copy of the written complaint was accessed by this reporter.

Actor Sagarika Shona Suman who is a volunteer with Nari Adhikar said sources close to the 28-year-old victim informed her that the male officer in charge of her case (IO) was asking uncomfortable questions and seemed to be only supporting the accused Mr Vibhu Agarwal.

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In a statement released by her office, she stated: “a friend of the victim told me that several points that were mentioned by her to the officer at the time of registering the FIR and while recording her statement have not been included in the FIR. The officer has watered-down the FIR and victim statement making it very light and easy on the accused,” Sagarika explained.

Also the victim was locked in a small cabin for several hours or an entire day. They (both the accused) made her remove her under garments and wear underwear with the Ullu company logo on it. Then they clicked her photos and shot a video of the victim in merely her inner wear. Further she was physically pushed around by both the accused. These acts involve various additional sections of the IPC, which the IO ignored in order to help the accused and make the case lighter, the victim’s friend told Sagarika.

‘She told me that she is very sure that the IO is “compromised and managed” by both the accused. The victim’s friend informed me, the IO is only questioning her about another case registered in Lucknow, when he should restrict his investigation to the present crime at Amboli jurisdiction. We will send a written communication to the Mumbai Police Commissioner as well as other senior police officials in regard to the above allegations on Friday, Sagarika informed.

IndyaTv.in made several attempts to contact Mr Vibhu Agarwal of Ullu App, but he was unavailable for comment. He is not answering his mobile phones and WhatsApp and SMS messages sent to his three mobile phones/numbers went unanswered. Attempts to contact him on the landline number at his Mumbai office also proved futile. Our reporters left messages with Ullu Digital staff, requesting for an interview or audience with Vibhu Agarwal to hear his side of the story, but no response was forthcoming. The Country Head and Executive Director of the company said it was not possible to reach Vibhu Agarwal. We will update this story when Mr Vibhu Agarwal responds to us.