TN panel to probe sexual harassment charge against DGP

For the first time in TN, a police officer holding the rank of DGP (Law and Order) has been accused of sexual harassment by his subordinate, also an IPS officer. The complainant, serving as a Superintendent of Police, lodged a complaint with the Home Secretary against senior IPS officer Rajesh Das, Special DGP (law and order).

Following the complaint, the State government on Wednesday swung into action and formed a six-member committee under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act to probe the charges against the top officer, who has also been shunted out and put on compulsory wait.

According to sources, the incident occurred during Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami’s recent visit to central districts where Das was overseeing security arrangements. The DGP had allegedly asked the woman SP to get into his car as he had something important to discuss. “Inside the car he alleged touched her inappropriately after which she had to stop the car and step out to get into her vehicle,” a source said.

On Monday, the SP rushed to Chennai to file a complaint with DGP JK Tripathy and Home Secretary SK Prabhakar but was stopped by a police team headed by another SP at Chengalpattu Toll Plaza and asked to return without filing the complaint. “She was told that headquarters had asked her not to proceed with the complaint to Chennai and return to her district immediately,” an official said. She ignored the threat and went ahead with the complaint to both state DGP and Home Secretary.

Additional Chief Secretary (Planning and Development) Jayashree Raghunandan, was appointed on Wednesday as the presiding officer of the committee while the other members include Seema Agarwal, ADGP, headquarters, A Arun, IG, administration, B Shamoondeswari, DIG, Kancheepuram, VK Ramesh, chief administrative officer, office of DGP and Loretta Jhona of International Justice Mission.