BANGALORE: The messing up of the investigation into the rape of a six-year-old girl in an East Bangalore school has raised questions about the way the probe has been handled by the police. Skating instructor Muhammed Mustafa, arrested earlier as the main accused, was virtually given a clean chit in the case on Wednesday.

Some police officers TOI spoke to say the arrest was hurried, without sufficient evidence. It was a result of pre-conceived notions rather than a result of thorough investigation, the officers said.

Mustafa, who the police claimed was picked up after his laptop revealed he was surfing child pornography sites, is still in custody. Mustafa's father said, Mohammed Murtaza, said he was sure his son would come out clean.

"He is my son and I know him. He can’t commit such heinous crime. I met him in Parappana Agrahara prison and felt bad seeing my only son behind bars. I could not stand there for a long time," he told TOI. Mustafa's mother said they haven’t even eaten anything properly since police arrested Mustafa on July 20.

"We're a poor but happy family. Mustafa is our sole bread winner as his father takes up odd jobs that fetch little money. We are running out of money now," she said. The family said they locked themselves behind doors while their neighbours celebrated Eid on Tuesday. "All these years, we celebrated this festival together. Our son-in-law’s family also used to join us. But this year, we did not invite anyone," she said.

A former top cop said, "Being convinced about someone’s involvement isn't good enough. There must be evidence complying with the Evidence Act to back the arrest. Making an arrest and announcing it without having prosecutable evidence should be avoided."

An officer told TOI most of the interrogation and putting together of evidence was left to junior officers, while senior officers merely took reports and let the probe proceed. No senior officer was actively involved in detailed interrogation of the "suspect" before he was arrested. On Tuesday, the police arrested two gym instructors for the rape of the girl on July 2, saying the arrested skating instructor Muhammed Mustafa wasn't "directly involved".

READ ALSO: 2 gym instructors held for 6-year-old's alleged gang rape in Bangalore

