Rajkishore Keshari and (below) Rupam Pathak. Telegraph pictures

Patna, Feb. 14: National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken a serious note of the lackadaisical attitude of Purnea police towards the case related to alleged sexual exploitation of Rupam Pathak.

The principal of a Purnea-based public school has been booked for killing Rajkishore Keshari, the BJP MLA from Purnea Sadar.

The commission issued a directive to Bihar director-general of police (DGP) Neel Mani, asking him to submit a detailed report on the case pertaining to the sexual exploitation of Rupam within four weeks of the receipt of the letter.

“The allegations levelled in the petition are serious in nature,” the letter issued by the commission said.

The commission also directed the DGP to ensure that proper treatment and security were provided to Pathak, who is currently lodged in Purnea divisional jail.

Keshari was stabbed to death at his Sipahi Tola residence in Purnea town on January 4.

The petition submitted to the NHRC by Rakesh Raman Jha, president of Association of Social Research and Action, New Delhi, alleged that the case lodged by Pathak against the MLA and his associate was not properly investigated by the Kazanchi Haat police. “The matter is pending in the civil court,” the petition said.

The petition further stated Navlesh Pathak, who has also been arrested in connection with the MLA’s murder case, was facing threat to his life. “He is the only independent person, who can produce the evidence of rape and sexual abuse,” the petition said, adding Navlesh had first published the news about the rape of Pathak in his weekly.

A copy of the directive issued by the NHRC on February 3 has also been forwarded to the deputy inspector-general (human rights).

The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has already sought a detailed report from the DGP on the progress in the investigation of the case lodged by Rupam Pathak.

“SHRC chairman justice (retired) S.N. Jha took notice of the complaint filed by Rupam’s mother Kumud Mishra on January 6.

The DGP has been asked to submit the report within four weeks after the receipt of the commission’s letter,” Rupam’s counsel Dinesh Kumar told The Telegraph.

A senior police officer posted at the state police headquarters said a report had been sought from Purnea superintendent of police on the status of the case lodged by Rupam.

The police officer said the investigating officer submitted a final report in the court as no evidence was found to corroborate the allegations.

Rupam in her statement recorded under Section 164 of CrPC in Purnea court on June 18, 2010, however, said she had filed the complaint against the slain MLA and his associate Bipin Rai under pressure.

She also denied being raped by the accused.

On September 16, last year, she filed a protest petition in the court saying she had been deceived.

“The accused are trying to hush up the case as they are influential persons. The investigating officer as well as other senior officials are working under pressure of the accused,” she alleged in the protest petition.