IIT Kanpur scholar files rape case against senior cop, officer transferred

A 26-year-old IIT-Kanpur research scholar has accused an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) of rape, following which he was transferred on Thursday, police said.

Based on the complaint by the woman, who accused the officer, Mohammad Mohsin Khan, a 2013-batch Provincial Police Service officer, of raping her under the pretext of marriage, an FIR has been filed against him. Khan has been relieved of his current duties and reassigned to the Director General of Police (DGP) headquarters in Lucknow, officials said.

“An SIT has also been established for a detailed investigation, which will be headed by ADCP Traffic Archana Singh. To ensure a fair probe, the ACP has been immediately attached to the Police Headquarters in Lucknow,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Ankita Sharma said.

Khan has been charged with allegedly “seeking sexual intercourse by employing deceitful means.” He has not yet been arrested, Sharma said.

“The SIT has been directed to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure the case is resolved based on facts and evidence,” Sharma added.

According to police, the ACP enrolled at IIT-Kanpur five months ago to pursue a PhD in cybercrime and criminology. While studying at the institute, he reportedly developed a relationship with the research scholar and promised to marry her after divorcing his wife. When the officer later reneged on his promise, the woman filed a rape complaint.

DCP Sharma and Additional DCP Archana Singh visited the campus to meet the woman and verify her claims.

“Prima facie, the charges against the ACP appear credible. As a result, he has been stripped of his current responsibilities and transferred out of the city to ensure a free and impartial investigation,” a police officer said.

Meanwhile, IIT-Kanpur Director Manindra Agrawal confirmed the development and said that the “institute is committed to provide all the necessary support to the student at this difficult time.”

“The institute is committed to provide all the necessary support to the student at this difficult time. We are also thankful to the city police for their quick action on the complaint. We are cooperating with them in the investigation,” an official statement said.