“Serious repercussions”: Jharkhand HC takes suo motu cognizance of Spanish Vlogger’s gangrape case

Jharkhand: The Jharkhand High Court recently took suo motu cognizance regarding the gang-rape of a 45-year-old Spanish tourist who was on a motorbike tour with her husband near Dumka, Jharkhand. 

The foreign tourist, who is also a travel vlogger, was allegedly gang-raped at Kurumahat in Hansdiha police station area, around 300 km from state capital Ranchi, on Friday when she was spending the night in a tent along with her husband, as per the State police. 

A division bench of Acting Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Navneet Kumar directed the Director General Of Police and the state government to file a response in the matter by March 7. The Bench noted that as per newspaper reports,“X” is Spanish-speaking person but it is not known whether there is the facility of translator with the help of whom her statement was recorded. 

And, keeping in mind the CPC amendments and emphasis on scientific investigation in cases of offences relating to rape, the court highlighted the urgent need to require a report from the Superintendent of Police at Dumka to understand the progress of investigation so far conducted in the matter. 

While doing so, the Bench stated that such incidents (of crimes against foreigners) may have both national and international repercussions, tarnishing the image of the country all over the world. 

“The incidents of crime of any kind against a foreign national may have serious national and international repercussion including impacting the tourism economy of the country. A sex-related crime against a foreign women is likely to bring adverse publicity against the country and thereby tarnishing the image of India across the globe”. 

Reportedly, the Dumka administration on Monday handed over a cheque of Rs 10 lakh to the gang-rape survivor's husband as compensation. 

The matter will be next taken up for hearing on March 7. 

On a related note, it was been reported that three persons, who were arrested in the case were produced before a Judicial Magistrate Court on Sunday and sent to jail afterwards.