Meet The Sharp Lady Cop Who Posed As Medical Student For 3 Months To Crack Ragging Case

Shalini Chouhan, a young constable, posed as a medical student over a student’s complaint with the University Grants Commission (UGC) helpline. Based on the complaint, the institute’s administration filed a criminal case against unidentified students on July 24, reported India Times.

Sanyogitaganj police station in-charge Tehzeeb Qazi told PTI that the complaint on the UGC helpline had complete details about the ragging incident. The only missing pieces were the names of the accused and the complainant student, said India Times report.

The complaint also carried screenshots of chats on a social media platform, but the number of students involved had not been revealed, Qazi added. 

Juniors made to perform vulgar acts

As per reports, the complaints alleged that first-year students were made to perform obscene acts, such as pretending to have sex with pillows. The police said the complainants didn’t come forward or name the accused, possibly fearing harassment. 

The cops visited the campus, too, but the accusers refrained from coming forward when they saw the officers in uniform. Following this, the investigation unit tried to track down the contact numbers of the complaints but to no avail, as the helpline’s policy prohibits anyone from doing so. 

The undercover operation

With no other choice left, the police had to resort to good old ground-level policing. With a bag on her shoulder and a vibrant demeanour for over three months, Shalini eased her presence at the college. She befriended students who hung around in the canteen.

The lady cop spent five to six hours at the canteen every day. She used to keep a watch on the seniors, who were tagged on the inputs of in-charge Tehzib Qazi and SI Satyajeet Chouhan, the officers leading the case.

Eventually, she identified 11 senior students allegedly involved in the brutal ragging of first-year students. After Shalini singled out the seniors, they were suspended from the college and the hostel for three months. 

Additionally, notices have been served to the accused under relevant provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) and they have been asked to cooperate in the probe and appear in court when the charge sheet is submitted. 

Apart from Shalini, another woman personnel was roped in to pose as a nurse and two constables were sent as canteen workers to the college as a part of the undercover team. “…I used to spend five-six hours at the canteen every day, at intervals so that it would seem like I am also working and not just hanging around there all day, and talking to all kinds of people there..,” Shalini told Times Of India. 

Nobody suspected the lady cop

In all these weeks, no one realised that she had nothing to do with medicine. During a light conversation with TOI, Shalini seemed pleased and said, “No one had a clue.” 

“No one ever took me for anyone else,” she laughed when asked whether the students suspected her. 

Inspired by her father

Posted at Sanyogitaganj police station in Indore, Shalini Chauhan was recently inducted into the force. Her father, a policeman, died in 2010 and her mother died a year later. 

Inspired by her father, she joined the force. Mission MGM was her first operation. Chauhan gathered enough information to crack a blind case that had thwarted investigators for over five months.