Woman IPS Officer's Sexual Harassment Complaint: Madras High Court Extends CB-CID Probe By 6 Weeks

A Bench of Justice N. Anand Venkatesh ordered thus after perusing the status report filed by the Investigating Officer explaining the progress made in the investigation so far.

"The victim officer in this case is a high-ranked police officer of the State Police. It took so much of struggle, for a police officer of that rank, even to give a complaint to the DGP, Chennai. This Court shudders to think as to what would have happened if the victim was an officer belonging to a lower cadre as that of a Sub-Inspector or Constable of Police. Probably, it would have become impossible for such an officer to have even given a complaint in this case. If that is the position in which lady officers are placed, it is hard to think as to what will happen if such a sexual harassment had taken place on an ordinary lady with no background," the Court had earlier remarked.

On April 30, it directed the CB-CID to complete its investigation within 6 weeks and file a status report by June 18.

On Friday, the Court noted that so far the Investigation Officer has recorded the statements of 7 more witnesses and thus far 113 witnesses were examined and their statements have been recorded under Section 161(3) CrPC.

It was informed what remains is the analysis report of the witness statements and the same is pending with the Forensic Department.

The IO, who was also present through video conferencing, stated that all efforts are made to collect the analysis report from the Forensic Department and it will be collected within the coming three weeks.

Insofar as the report of the Internal Complaints Committee is concerned, the Advocate General informed the Court that the same has already been submitted to the Secretary, Home Department and steps are being taken to proceed further on that basis.

Accordingly, the Bench ordered,

"This Court is satisfied with the reasons assigned in the affidavit filed by the Investigation Officer for not being able to complete the investigation within six weeks as expected by this Court in the previous https://www.mhc.tn.gov.in/judis/ 5/8 W.P.No.6591 of 2021 order dated 30.04.2021. The investigation is almost complete and what remains is certain reports to be collected by the Investigation Officer before the final report is filed before the concerned jurisdictional Court.

Taking into consideration the Status Report filed by the Investigation Officer and also the submissions made by the learned Advocate General and the learned State Public Prosecutor, this Court is inclined to extend the time for filing of the final report. Accordingly, there shall be a direction to the Investigation Officer to complete the investigation and file the final report before the concerned jurisdictional Court within a period of six weeks from today."

The matter is now fixed for July 30.

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