In response to Mumbai police’s assertion that the woman delayed signing her statement, Advocate Rizwan Merchant, representing the complainant, contends that the police are attempting to protect themselves. He states that the woman had to navigate obstacles to register her FIR, and the police fabricated stories to avoid embarrassment in court. “The officers are claiming this only to save their skins.  There’s no reason why the complainant wouldn’t sign her statement when she has already submitted a handwritten and signed complaint to a senior officer, which is a part of records,” Merchant said, responding to mid-day on claims that the woman was not ready to sign on the papers. 

Sources said that the police were deliberately delaying the FIR or working under pressure. When the complainant initially approached the BKC police station in February, the cops told her that the competent officer or women police officers were not available. “Under the pretext of non-availability of women police officers, she seems to have been sent on a wild goose chase to get her grievance registered… from BKC to Kherwadi and then to Vakola,” Merchant added.