A case of rape has also been filed against Rohit Tomar, the son of a Delhi Police sub-inspector.
New Delhi: The son of a Delhi Police sub-inspector who was seen thrashing a woman on a video that went viral was arrested Friday, Delhi Police said.
Rohit Tomar, the 21-year-old son of sub-inspector Ashok Singh Tomar, was arrested by the Tilak Nagar police on the complaint of his ex-girlfriend who claimed that he had been harassing and verbally abusing her for the past two months.
At another police station in the city, a case of rape has also been filed against Rohit, this one by the woman who was being beaten up by him in the video. This case was filed at the Uttam Nagar police station late Thursday.
According to an official statement issued by Anto Alphonse, DCP, Dwarka, the woman in the video has given a written statement to the police in which she alleges that Rohit called her to his friend’s office in Uttam Nagar on 2 September and “made physical relations with her without her consent”.
Also read: Delhi cop’s son thrashes woman in viral video to scare his ex-girlfriend into marrying him
A medical examination was conducted, after which an FIR under sections 376 (rape), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), and 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) was registered at the station.
The statement adds she told the police that Rohit started beating her up after she told him of her intentions to file a case against him.
Horrifying video
The 1 minute 44 second-long clip shows Rohit beating up the woman at a call centre. He slaps, kicks, verbally abuses, and uses his elbows and knees to strike her, while the woman pleads with him to stop.
The person who recorded the video was Ali, a friend and classmate of Rohit’s, who works at this call centre. When contacted by ThePrint, Ali said he took this video for his own safety.
Ali said he didn’t know the woman being beaten up, and added she might be “Rohit’s club friend”. However, he said both were drunk at the time of the assault.
Arrest, re-arrest
Rohit’s ex-girlfriend had filed a complaint on Wednesday after which he was arrested. But she claimed that when she went to the Tilak Nagar station the following day, Rohit was not in custody.
DCP West Delhi, Monika Bhardwaj clarified to ThePrint Friday morning that Rohit was not in police custody, although he was taken into pre-emptive custody Wednesday and then let off.
Also read: This Delhi man was called a ‘pervert’ in viral post 3 years ago — and he’s still stuck there
Union home minister Rajnath Singh has taken cognisance of the video and spoken to Amulya Patnaik, commissioner of the Delhi Police, asking for action to be taken in the case.
The first step to justice. Unacceptable, unpardonable behavior. Women safety in becoming increasing important, and exposes such as this, that drive the administration to take action, are worth an applause.