Complete Trial In Sexual Harassment Case Of Woman IPS Officer Against DGP By Dec 20: Madras High Court To Trial Court
The Madras High Court on Monday directed a lower court in Villupuram to complete the trial in the sexual assault complaint of a woman IPS officer against the suspended special DGP by December 20, 2021. The Madras High Court had taken suo moto cognizance of alleged sexual harassment of an IPS cadre woman officer by her senior, a Special DGP, and had decided to monitor the investigation into...
The Madras High Court on Monday directed a lower court in Villupuram to complete the trial in the sexual assault complaint of a woman IPS officer against the suspended special DGP by December 20, 2021.
The Madras High Court had taken suo moto cognizance of alleged sexual harassment of an IPS cadre woman officer by her senior, a Special DGP, and had decided to monitor the investigation into the case itself.
On Monday, when the matter came up before the Bench of Justice N. Anand Venkatesh, he directed the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Villupuram, to proceed further and frame charges and conduct the trial in this matter on a day to day basis
"As far as possible, the proceedings shall be conducted without granting unnecessary adjournments and it will be the duty of the respondent police, to summon the witnesses without causing any undue delay. It goes without saying that the witnesses will be cross examined on the same day they are examined in chief, unless such cross examination is not able to be conducted or concluded on the same day due to reasons beyond control," the Court further directed.
Background
On 01st March, while taking the suo moto cognizance of the case, the Court had minced no words in criticizing the alleged incident and also expressed displeasure at the manner in which the Special DGP allegedly used his contacts and power to prevent the victim officer from even filing a complaint against him.
The Judge had expressed his concern regarding the fact that if an officer holding a high rank in Indian Police Services can be harassed and be forced to not file a complaint, what must be the state of ordinary women who are victims of such acts.
Further, the Court heard the plea seeking issuance of directions to the CB-CID to effectively conduct the investigation in the matter, duly monitored by the HC.
The Plea sought a direction to submit a periodical status report on the progress made in the investigation before this Court and to complete the investigation as expeditiously as possible.
On Monday, it was submitted that the State CB-CID examined a total of 122 witnesses and 72 documents were collected in the course of the investigation. It was also submitted that the Final Report was filed before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Villupuram, on July 29, 2021, as against two accused of offences under Sections 354, 354A(2), 341, 506(1), 506(1) r/w 109 IPC and Section 4 of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Woman Act, 2002.
Earlier, the Madras High Court had extended by six weeks, the time granted to CB-CID for completing the probe into the matter.
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