28-05-2025
SIT beings probe into sexual harassment case against RDVV VC
Jabalpur: An SIT constituted on the directions of the high court to investigate the sexual harassment at workplace complaint made by a female officer against Rani Durgavati Vishwavidyalaya (RDVV) vice-chancellor has started its probe.
The SIT includes senior officials such as IG Irshad Wali, DIG Monika Shukla, and SP GRP Jabalpur, Shimala Prasad. Sources said the SIT started its probe a few days ago, and statements of the people connected to the case are being recorded.
Earlier, taking serious note of the complaints of negligence in the ongoing investigation into the complaint, the court ordered the formation of a three-member committee of IPS officers to investigate the matter.
Justice Vishal Mishra ordered that the committee be chaired by an IG-rank officer and include a female officer of SP rank.
Notably, the female officer posted at the university filed a complaint of workplace sexual harassment against Vice-Chancellor Rajesh Kumar Verma. Due to inaction on the complaint, the aggrieved female officer approached the HC.
The petition stated that on Nov 21, 2024, during a meeting, the vice-chancellor made indecent gestures in his office.
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He made inappropriate comments and gestures in front of everyone.
She requested the CCTV footage from the vice-chancellor's office on the day of the incident under the Right to Information Act, but it was not provided.
During the hearing, the govt informed the HC single bench that a six-member committee was formed for the investigation, and the CCTV footage from the day of the incident was preserved. However, during the hearing, it was revealed to the bench that the university administration did not present the CCTV footage from the day of the incident to the investigation committee.
The university administration informed the committee that the footage could not be downloaded due to a malfunction in the CCTV.
The single bench ordered the district collector to have the cameras at the university examined by forensic and technical experts. Upon reviewing the report submitted by the district collector, the single bench found no mention of whether the CCTV camera in the vice-chancellor's room was operational on the day of the incident.
The single bench instructed the committee to present an affidavit examining the seized documents, witness statements, and other elements related to the investigation.
The district collector expressed dissatisfaction with the investigation in the submitted affidavit. The single bench found that the investigation committee showed no interest in gathering evidence during the inquiry. Despite a serious complaint of workplace sexual harassment by a female employee, the respondent officers acted arbitrarily without conducting a proper investigation.
The petitioner's lawyer argued that the accused is an influential person with high political connections. The court gave the officers an opportunity to conduct a proper investigation, but the submitted report was unsatisfactory.
