The Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has put a stay on an investigation against the former Member Legislative Assembly (MLA) Shoaib Lone by the police in a rape case lodged by a woman who claimed to be the wife of the MLA.
Justice Rajnesh Oswal who was hearing the case said that apart from recording of the victim’s statement, all the other investigation would be stayed.
The order read that the investigation shall stay except to the extent of the recording of the statement of the prosecutrix.
The Court was hearing plea seeking quashing of a First Information Report (FIR) registered under Sections 376 (rape), 342 (wrongful confinement) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the India Penal Code.
The FIR which was registered at Baramulla Police Station on the complaint by a woman who claimed that she was the wife of Shoiab Lone.
Lone’s counsel argued that the FIR had only been lodged to harass the former lawmaker.
On the other hand, government counsel Jahangir Ahmad Dar sought time to file detailed response while submitting that the complainant was repeatedly requested by the police to appear for recording of her statement but she did not turn up.
With this, the investigation was stayed and the case was adjourned to June 14.
The court also issued notice to the complainant seeking a response from her.