Bhagalpur DSP Surrenders in Sexual Exploitation Case, Sent to Judicial Custody

Bhagalpur: A deputy superintendent of police (DSP) accused of sexual exploitation surrendered before a Bhagalpur court on Tuesday, nearly five years after the case was registered. The court subsequently remanded him to judicial custody.

Somesh Kumar Mishra, currently posted as headquarters DSP in Gaya, surrendered before Additional District Judge 1 Lavkush Kumar in Bhagalpur Civil Court. The case against him dates back to 20 March 2020, when a woman lodged a complaint at Bhagalpur’s women’s police station, accusing him of sexual exploitation.

Mishra told the court that he had been unable to appear earlier as he was on duty at the Pitru Paksha Mela in Gaya. However, the court dismissed his argument, deeming it contempt and a waste of judicial time.

Following the victim’s complaint in 2020, Bhagalpur police, under the leadership of then Mahila Thana in-charge Rita Kumari and ASP City Puran Kumar Jha, arrested Mishra from a railway quarter in Sahibganj, Jharkhand. At the time, he was a trainee DSP.

After spending a few days in jail, Mishra secured bail. However, he failed to appear for hearings, leading the court to cancel his bail bond on 30 July 2024 and issue a warrant against him for contempt.

According to the victim’s complaint, Mishra had called her to Delhi, sexually exploited her, and recorded obscene videos to blackmail her. She alleged that even after she got married, he continued to threaten her. The victim later approached the then Senior Superintendent of Police, Ashish Bharti, who directed officials to file a case and arrest the accused.

Following his arrest and charge sheet filing, Mishra was suspended by the police headquarters.