Court to directly monitor the CB-CID investigation against DGP Rajesh Das

Tamil Nadu CB-CID police have registered an FIR against DGP Rajesh Das, following allegations of sexual harassment made by a fellow IPS officer. The crime branch also included SP Kannan in the FIR, claiming that the latter tried to prevent the women IPS officer from filing an official complaint against Rajesh Das.

Chennai (Tamil Nadu): The Tamil Nadu Crime Branch CID police have registered an FIR against DGP Rajesh Das, following allegations of sexual harassment made by a fellow IPS officer. Special Director General of Police (Law and Order) Rajesh Das and Chengalpattu Superintendent of Police D Kannan have been booked under Section 354 (outraging modesty of a woman) of the IPC along with sections 3 and 4 of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act.

The Tamil Nadu government even set up a six-member inquiry committee led by Additional Chief Secretary Jayashree Raghunandan to probe the woman IPS officer's complaint against Rajesh Das, who has been placed on "compulsory wait" at the office of the DGP.

Allegations have been made that Chengalpattu SP D Kannan had apprehended the female officer in order to prevent her from lodging a complaint against Rajesh Das. While SP Mutharasi has been appointed the CB-CID investigation officer in the case.

Meanwhile, the Madras High Court is all set to directly monitor the CB-CID investigations and ask the investigating team to submit the developments on a regular basis, while hearing a suo-moto petition regarding the issue. The court also strictly directed not to reveal the identity of the women officer at any cost.

The Madras High Court in its observation said, "It's shocking to see a top-level woman IPS officer face immense hurdles to file a complaint about the injustice faced by her. Then what would be the situation of women cops in the low-level ranks".

(With inputs from PTI)