Mangalore: Harassment case - Committee meets; ASI, ACP fail to appear
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)
Mangalore, Jun 6: The committee set up by the city commissionerate to deal with sexual harassment at workplace, met for the first time on Wednesday June 5, and took up the complaint of sexual and other harassment made by Pandeshwar assistant sub-inspector of police, Shreekala, against city south assistant commissioner of police (ACP) T R Jagannath.
The meeting was chaired by assistant police commissioner, Kavita. Complainant Shreekala was expected to make an appearance, but she failed to attend the sitting. It is said that she had not received the advance notice served on her by the committee to appear before it. The accused ACP also did not appear before the committee.
In view of these things, it was decided to hold the committee meeting again on June 13.
At the same time, the complaint relating to promise of doubling the investment filed against Shreekala has been taken up by the police. As she fears arrest in the case, she has applied for anticipatory bail. Sources said that Shreekala chose not to attend the sitting of the committee on Wednesday, as she faced the prospect of being arrested. In the meanwhile, ACP Jagannath, who had gone on a ten-day leave after the committee was appointed, joined duty on Wednesday.
There were demands for the suspension of the ACP pending inquiry, from certain social service organizations, who argued that it becomes difficult for a junior to participate in inquiry proceedings when senior official is on duty.
Home minister T J George had promised of transferring the ACP. Although it is said that Jagannath has been transferred to Bangalore, city police commissioner Manish Karbikar said that the written order is yet to be received by the commissionerate. Sources in the department said that the transfer orders, even if issued, will not come into force till June 7, as the house is in session.