Bhupesh Baghel, a senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, has accused the Durg Superintendent of Police (SP) and the Principal of Delhi Public School (DPS) Bhilai of attempting to conceal a molestation case involving a four-year-old girl. The incident allegedly occurred at DPS Bhilai, which is managed by a society linked to the Bhilai Steel Plant. Baghel, addressing a press conference in Rajiv Bhawan, criticised the State Government’s handling of the case, claiming that law and order in Chhattisgarh has deteriorated. He argued that while the entire country is outraged over recent molestation incidents, the Durg police is actively trying to suppress this particular case, reflecting the ‘Sushasan’ delivered by the current Sai government.

 

Baghel claimed that numerous parents protested after learning about the July incident, but the Principal and the SP tried to silence them. Despite a complaint by the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) to the Women and Child Development Department Minister Laxmi Rajwade, the Durg SP has reportedly been discouraging media coverage and reprimanding journalists and his subordinates. According to Supreme Court guidelines, an FIR should be registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act in such cases. However, the Durg SP has denied the incident without conducting any investigation, which Baghel deems unconstitutional and against natural justice. Baghel further criticised the extension granted to the retired Principal, Prashant Vashisth, by the BSP management, calling it illegal as he does not fulfil any of the criteria required for an extension, Baghel claimed. He also demanded an investigation into allegations of corruption and other irregularities at the school. Calling for the removal of both the School Principal and the SP, Durg Baghel demanded a probe by a High Court judge into the matter. It may be noted that the school management and the SP had been consistently denying that any such incident had particular case, reflecting the ‘Sushasan’ delivered by the current Sai government. Baghel claimed that numerous parents protested after learning about the July incident, but the Principal and the SP tried to silence them.

 

Despite a complaint by the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) to the Women and Child Development Department Minister Laxmi Rajwade, the Durg SP has reportedly been discouraging media coverage and reprimanding journalists and his subordinates. According to Supreme Court guidelines, an FIR should be registered under the POCSO Act in such cases. However, the Durg SP has denied the incident without conducting any investigation, which Baghel deems unconstitutional and against natural justice. Baghel further criticised the extension granted to the retired Principal, Prashant Vashisth, by the BSP management, calling it illegal as he does not fulfil any of the criteria required for an extension, Baghel claimed. He also demanded an investigation into allegations of corruption and other irregularities at the school. Calling for the removal of both the School Principal and the SP, Durg Baghel demanded a probe by a High Court judge into the matter.

 

It may be noted that the school management and the SP had been consistently denying that any such incident had occurred even the parents have remained hushed on the matter. Also there are no complaints of any sort and former chief minister believed that fear was preventing parents from coming forward. Even the principal had denied the TC of the child to the parents. Baghel also made it clear that he had not spoken to the parents. Congress leader Ravindra Choubey, speaking at the press conference, echoed Baghel’s concerns, stating that despite BJP party workers and leaders taking up the matter, no action has been initiated. He questioned the government’s inaction and demanded a polygraph test for the Principal and the removal of the Durg SP for his alleged intimidation of parents and journalists.

 

Dhanendra Sahu, a former state president of the Congress, also expressed deep concern about the case, stating that it has negatively impacted the current government. He refuted the claims made by the government. Other Congress leaders, including Amarjeet Bhagat, Satyanarayan Sharma, Shiv Kumar Dahariya, Chhaya Verma, Vikas Upadhyay, Kuldeep Juneja, Sushil Anand Shukla, Rakesh Gupta, Neeraj Pal, and others, attended the press conference.