Child Safety at Risk? Nashik POCSO Case Raises Police Conduct Questions.

Nashik POCSO Case Raises Questions Over Police Conduct and Child Protection Mechanisms

A Nashik POCSO case registered at Mhasrul Police Station has triggered serious concerns over alleged procedural violations, administrative silence, and misuse of child welfare representation. RTI disclosures suggest mandatory intimation to the Women and Child Development Department was skipped, while a private individual was allegedly presented as an official child protection representative. These revelations raise troubling questions about accountability, transparency, and the enforcement of child protection laws in Nashik.

The conduct of Mhasrul Police, senior officers from Circle-1, and the Nashik Police Commissioner has come under scrutiny after the complainant family alleged deliberate inaction despite repeated formal representations.

According to the family, written complaints addressed to Police Commissioner Sandeep Karnik received no decisive response, intensifying concerns about whether child protection laws are being implemented effectively in Nashik.

The journalist filed a writ petition before the Bombay High Court. The High Court dismissed the petition, citing a reference to a CWC officer. Subsequently, information revealed under the Right to Information Act has proved shocking.

Several irregularities allegedly committed while closing the POCSO complaint came to light, particularly involving the investigating officer and a police sub-inspector.

Documents indicate that the District Women and Child Development Department, Nashik, was never officially informed about the POCSO complaint, contrary to mandatory statutory requirements under the Act.

The complainants further alleged that Police Sub-Inspector Mayuri Bayas Ture summoned a private individual, Rohini Kumawat, during the recording of minor victims’ statements, misrepresenting her as an official child welfare representative.

Information obtained under the Right to Information Act shows contradictory claims, with police records alternately describing Rohini Kumawat as a Child Protection Committee member and a Women Vigilance Committee member.

These discrepancies have fuelled allegations that a fictitious official identity was deliberately created to legitimise illegal procedures, allegedly facilitating relief for the accused in the sensitive POCSO investigation.

Background of Matrimonial Dispute and Escalation into Criminal Allegations

The case originates from a remarriage between a divorced woman from Govind Nagar, Nashik, and a journalist from a well-educated family residing near Makhmalabad Road.

After four years of marriage, the woman allegedly conspired with relatives to file false dowry harassment and domestic violence cases, reportedly seeking financial extortion under the guise of maternity-related issues.

When the journalist filed an extortion complaint at Mhasrul Police Station, the family alleges that police attempted to suppress the complaint, forcing him to approach the Nashik District and Sessions Court.

Court intervention led to directions for registering an extortion case against the woman’s relatives, following which counter-allegations demanding Rs.50 lakh were allegedly made through legal representatives.

During this phase, the woman allegedly levelled obscene and defamatory allegations, including grave accusations involving minor children, allegedly to conceal her own criminal liability.

Handling of Minor Victims Raises Procedural and Ethical Concerns

Upon legal consultation, the family was advised that the allegations constituted offences under the POCSO Act, prompting a formal complaint at Mhasrul Police Station on August 12, 2025.

Despite the seriousness, investigators allegedly took no action until August 21, when victims and their mother were summoned and detained at the police station for an entire day.

The family alleges that victims were coerced into signing typed statements and instructed to repeat scripted content on video, causing severe psychological distress, particularly to a Class 10 student.

RTI replies later confirmed that the POCSO case had been closed, prompting the family to approach the Bombay High Court, where the prosecution relied on disputed child welfare officer representations.

Also Read: Mumbai BMC Civic Elections Rocked by Oil Mafia Funding Claims.

RTI Revelations Contradict Police Claims on Child Welfare Involvement

Further RTI queries to the District Women and Child Development Department revealed that Rohini Kumawat was not associated with the department, contradicting police submissions before the court.

The department also confirmed that it was never notified about the POCSO complaint, violating statutory obligations regarding child welfare officer presence during the recording of statements.

Despite repeated requests, police failed to provide video recordings of the minors’ statements, supplying only certification documents, further intensifying concerns over transparency and procedural compliance.

Based on documentary evidence, the family submitted a comprehensive complaint to the Nashik Police Commissioner on December 19, 2025, seeking the registration of an POCSO FIR and take action against the erring officers.

Whether Nashik’s police leadership will order accountability against the concerned officers or clarify Rohini Kumawat’s role now remains a crucial test of institutional integrity and child protection enforcement.

Sprouts News Special Investigation Team

Unmesh Gujarathi, head of the Sprouts News Special Investigation Team, has exposed several major scams and frauds. Citizens facing financial, legal, or institutional fraud are encouraged to contact Sprouts News for assistance and investigative support.