Maleka Singh Tak, who has got the prestigious National Bravery Award for allegedly foiling an abduction bid by two men, may lose the honour if a fresh police probe terms the incident false.
Gita Siddhartha, president of Indian Council for Child Welfare, the body which selects candidates for the awards, said corrective measures would be taken if the incident is found false in the second investigation also, which was ordered by Jaipur police last week.
Police had submitted a closure report last October denying happening of the incident in February last year when Tak, allegedly, fought two miscreants, who tried to push her into an SUV, and foiled their attempt to abduct her.
Tak was conferred the Geeta Chopra award for bravery by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi on the eve of Republic Day. ICCW authorities said they took into account FIR lodged by the girl's father, news clippings and endorsement by District Magistrate, her school principal and local ICCW office, but not the FIR which was filed by the police in a local court for the selection of the girl, which is done by a high committee.
"We were not aware of the closure report of the police at the time of selection in November last year. When we came to know about the doubts on the incident, I spoke to Jaipur District Collector last week who informed that the case has been reopened," Siddhartha told PTI over phone.
"The girl has been awarded for the time being and if the police conclude the same in the second probe, due process to withdraw the award would be initiated," she said, adding that the ICCW was in touch with District Magistrate of Jaipur with regard to the case. The case will now be re-investigated by an ACP rank officer.
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