The Chengalpattu SP Kannan along with a team of police personnel allegedly blocked the vehicle of a woman IPS officer on February 22 while she was heading towards Chennai for filing a complaint against the Special DGP and tried to make her speak to the DGP.
Following that the CB-CID police registered a case under three IPC sections and also under the provisions of the TN Woman Harassment (Prohibition) Act against the senior officer as well as Chengalpattu SP.
The police sent a notice to the SP and he will be called for an inquiry.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday morning the advocates in the Chengalpattu court protested on the court premises demanding that the SP should be suspended.
They also demanded his arrest by the CB-CID police along with the inspector and SI who blocked the woman SP’s vehicle at Paranur toll plaza.
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Special DIG Rajesh Das who been put under officer of waiting list
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It should be noted earlier Single Bench of Justice N. Anand Venkatesh 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 was concerned 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.
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The victim officer, belonging to the IPS cadre gave a complaint to the Director General of Police, Chennai, alleging that she was sexually harassed by the Special DGP in his official car while they were on their way to Ulundurpet District in connection to a bandobast duty on February 21, 2021.
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She alleged that she somehow escaped from the scene and was driving her official car towards Chennai with the purpose of filing a complaint when she started getting phone calls from the Special DGP and many other police officers.
As she decided not to attend those calls, she was intercepted at Paranur toll gate by a large contingent of police headed by the Superintendent of Police, Chengalpet District.
As per the complaint, a striking force vehicle was stationed right in front of her car and two named police officers in the rank of Inspector and Sub-Inspector of Police, respectively got down from the striking force vehicle, came near her car and took away the car keys.
Thereafter, the victim was pressurised and forced to talk with the Special DGP who is said to have requested her not to proceed further with the complaint. However, when the victim did not budge, she was allowed to leave, subsequent to which she submitted a complaint to the DGP, Chennai.
Thereafter, a FIR was registered by CBCID against the Special DGP and Superintendent of Police, Chengalpet, for offences under Sections 354A(2), 341, 506(1) of IPC and Section 4 of Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Woman Act, 1998.
After Opposition leader DMK president M.K Stalin taken up the matter and issued statement for safety of women then a Committee has also been constituted to enquire into the sexual harassment complaint given by the victim officer by the ADMK government.
