Chennai: Vishakha committee begins probe on sexual allegations against IG

Chennai: Apart from convening its first meeting after its constitution, the re-constituted Vishakha Committee in the state police department has officially begun the probe into sexual harassment allegations of a woman superintendent of police against an Inspector General, on Thursday.

The committee led by ADGP Seema Agarwal and its members ADGP S. Arunachalam, DIG P.C. Thenmozhi, retired additional SP Saraswathi and senior administrative officer Ramesh from the office of DGP met at the office of State Crime Records Bureau at Raja Annamalaipuram and discussed how to carry the inquiry into the allegation forward.

ADGP Seema Agarwal told DC that the committee would take action after the investigation and the inquiry would be carried forward as per the procedures and rules in place. “If needed the woman SP and IG will be summoned. It will all be part of the investigation,” she added

However, the ADGP refused to comment on the full details of the complaint and the exact course of action citing that the issue is under internal enquiry. She is not supposed to reveal if there is any prima-facie evidence for the allegations, she said.

In the complaint, the SP had alleged that the IG had tried to sexually assault her when she had entered his chamber for office work on August 1. The SP is currently on medical leave. She had lodged a complaint on August 3 citing the allegation. She had reportedly met the state DGP and home secretary with her complaint seeking action against her superior.

It may be noted that the police department had formed the committee to inquire into complaints of sexual harassment at the workplace and redress the grievances of such victims. The committee had been formed in compliance with the Vishaka guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court.