Chennai: DMK president nominee, MK Stalin accused the State government of shielding the IG facing allegations of sexual harassment from a woman Superintendent of police by “being vindictive” towards the victim and appointing officers close to him in the Vishaka panel to probe the serious complaint.
“Why were those close to the IG facing the accusation, nominated to enquire into the complaints against him? Was it a quid pro quo as the IG is in charge of the probe into the corruption charges against the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister and some other Ministers?” Stalin asked in a hard-hitting statement on Sunday.
The DMK opposition leader accused the government of showing interest in protecting the IG rather than enquire into the complaints against him. The Internal Complaints Committee formed by the DGP T. K. Rajendran, based on the woman SP’s complaint, does not conform to the guidelines issued by the Supreme Court on the Vishaka Committee. “It appears the ICC has been formed with an ulterior motive,” Stalin said.
“In order to ensure a fair probe, the committee should include a third party, such as a NGO or another body that’s familiar with the issue of sexual harassment, as per the Supreme Court guidelines. Instead, a retired police official Saraswathi has been made as member, in blatant violation of the rules,” the DMK chief said.
Also, ADGP Su Arunachalam, nominated to the committee, has been transferred to Chennai from Ramanathapuram while the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Thenmozhi who has also been nominated to the ICC, had worked under the IG facing the accusations.
“The committee has been constituted with the sole aim of helping the IG to go scot-free and throwing to winds women’s safety,” Stalin said.
The gross violations of the Supreme Court guidelines apart, even before the ICC could have its first sitting, the woman SP has been shunted out of the DVAC and the government has allowed the IG who is well versed in cyber technology to continue in the DVAC giving him an opportunity to erase the CCTV footage evidences.
“There is no safety and security to women employees in this government. This is a terrible situation prevailing. This is unfortunate. This IG has been granted permission to meet the Chief Minister. It appears that not only the woman official’s complaint but also all the corruption complaints against the ministers have been planned to be permanently stopped,” Stalin alleged.
He demanded that the Chief Secretary “immediately” transfer the IG to some other department and include a person from an NGO as member in the ICC so as to ensure the safety of working women. Also he sought the posting of an honest IG to DVAC.
