Tamilnadu Govt Remove Special DGP Accused of Sexual Assault
THE SEXUAL assault complaint filed by an IPS officer that led the Tamil Nadu government to remove a special DGP from office culminated in a 24-hour series of dramatic events earlier this week, including the complainant “running out of the car “in which the alleged incident took place, and was then allegedly” blocked by a team of 150 police officers “led by an SP while on his way to register his complaint, The Sunday Express learned.
On February 22 in the afternoon, one day after the alleged incident, the complainant was able to arrive in Chennai and file a complaint with DGP JK Tripathy and the Department of the Interior. Two days later, the state government removed Rajesh Das from the powerful position of Special DGP (Law and Order) and put him on “mandatory hold.” On the same day, the Department of the Interior established a six-member committee to investigate the allegations.
Asked by journalists about the complaint, Chief Minister EK Palaniswami said on Friday: “So far nothing has been proven. There is a probe on. ”
When contacted by The Indian Express, Das said the complaint was “politically motivated.” “Don’t you know that it was a false complaint, that it was political? Why not wait until the result of the investigation? Don’t you know you’re not supposed to write about this case? ” he said.
But The Indian Express spoke to several high-ranking police officers who said they witnessed some of the key moments of the alleged incident or had access to details. His accounts were added to the chilling account of a female officer allegedly attacked by a superior while on duty and by a system that fought to protect its own.
According to senior officials, the sequence of events unfolded around 10pm last Sunday on the Trichy-Chennai highway. The Chief Minister’s convoy had just left the Kongu region after a pre-election event, and the Special DGP was heading back to Chennai after “VIP duty”. By the rules, they said, the whistleblower was one of the district managers on his way to meet the superior officer.
“Above all, they do it with a greeting and then accompany the convoy. But the superior officer asked her to join him in the car. There is nothing unusual about such a lawsuit, ”said a senior official.
The car had gone ahead for about 40 minutes when they reached the next point where IGP (North Zone) K Shankar, DIG M Pandian and IPS officer Ziaul Haque were waiting to receive Das. “As soon as the car stopped, the female agent ran out the right side of the car. He literally ran 15-20 meters … But his own official car was far behind. He asked Haque to take the car for him. She did not discuss the incident with any of them, ”the sources said.
There were subsequent attempts to contact her, but “she did not respond,” another senior officer said.
When asked about the sequence of events, IGP Shankar declined to comment. DIG Pandian was not available for comment. Haque said: “The matter is now under investigation. I don’t want to comment. ”
On Monday morning, sources said, Das allegedly sought the help of an IG rank officer to contact the female officer. But he couldn’t locate her immediately. An hour or two later, the officer learned that he had left for Chennai. Soon, Villupuram district officers were ordered to intercept his vehicle. But a team of officers who visited a toll plaza on the road reported that their vehicle had already passed, “said a senior officer.
In Chengalpet, the next neighboring district of Chennai, SP D Kannan and a team of policemen were ordered to intercept his car, the officer said. “The SP stopped the car and asked him to speak with the superior officer and return. But he kept his plan despite the intimidating atmosphere. The SP had about 150 policemen with him, ”said the officer.
“When she firmly told the SP that she would also record her role in her complaint, he withdrew and allowed her to continue,” the source said.
When contacted by The Indian Express, Kannan did not deny the incident but questioned the number of police officers who were with him. “Not so much… See, I don’t want to talk about that anymore. I’ve already talked about that, ”he said. Kannan had previously told reporters that he was not aware of the case or the complaint and was “simply following orders.”
Following the incident, several IPS officers have asked the Tamil Nadu IPS Officers Association to recommend the suspension of Das, Kannan, and the senior officer who allegedly tried to help the Special DIG.
A statement from the IPS association said it sympathizes with any harassment in the workplace. “We ask the investigation committee to do justice through a free, fair, and swift investigation with sensitivity involved,” the association said.
Das had already been under the scanner when the State Human Rights Commission ordered him in 2000 to pay a fine for allegedly assaulting police personnel. In 2004, he was suspended for allegedly misbehaving with his subordinates.
She is a freelance blogger, writer, and speaker, and writes for various entertainment magazines.