3 yrs on, Punjab cop acquitted of sexual harassment charge

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, November 15

A local court found a sub-inspector of the Punjab Police not guilty in a sexual harassment case.

The prosecution failed to prove the charge, following which the court acquitted Davinder Singh, who was booked under Section 354A (sexual harassment and punishment for sexual harassment) of the Indian Penal Code. He was posted as a sub-inspector at the office of ADGP Intelligence Punjab, in Chandigarh and the allegations were made by a junior assistant at the office.

The matter dates back to August 8, 2015, when the cop was booked on a complaint filed by the junior assistant. She had moved the complaint on January 12, 2015, wherein she had stated that the accused was sexually assaulting her since 2007. She stated that she had joined the office in 2006 and the accused was also working in the same department.

She stated that once in 2007, he insisted her to stay back after office hours to complete the official work, which she agreed to. After completing the work, he offered to drop her at her home. She went along with him. However, he took her to a house where he sexually harassed her.

She alleged that she started shouting for help, following which he took out his revolver and threatened to kill her. She was allegedly threatened to sign documents that everything between them happened with her consent. It was alleged that he had lured her to get her promoted as his brother was working with a senior official.

The complainant had stated that she did not disclose it to anyone as she was married and had a son as well. But the cop later kept on sexually harassing her, following which she decided to raise her voice and filed a complaint against him.

Later, the compliant was forwarded to the SSP, Chandigarh, and a case was filed against the accused.

Defence counsel Rabindra Pandit argued that the accused was falsely implicated. He argued that why the complainant spoke after eight years of the alleged crime. It was also argued that there were many lady officers in the same office and how it was possible that she did not share the incident with any of them.

Also, during the cross-examination, the complainant could not reveal the place where the accused allegedly took her — whether it was in Chandigarh, Panchkula or Mohali.

After hearing the arguments, the court acquitted the Punjab cop.