CB-CID Granted Extension of 6 Weeks to Submit Final Report in Women IPS Officer Sexual Harassment Case: Madras HC

CB-CID Granted Extension of 6 Weeks to Submit Final Report in Women IPS Officer Sexual Harassment Case: Madras HC

The instant case is relating to the sexual harassment of a women IPS officer by her senior, a special DGP, which the Hon’ble Madras High Court took Suo moto cognizance and decided to monitor the investigation.

The Hon’ble Bench led by Hon’ble Justice N Anand Venkatesh granted an extension of 6 weeks to submit the final report on consideration of affidavit filed and reasons stated by the Investigating Officer.

In the hearing through virtual mode, the Hon’ble court took note of the status report filed by Investigating officer.

The contents of the status report are as follows:

It is firstly submitted by the investigation officer that so far 113 witnesses are examined under section 161(3) Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (hereinafter referred to as “Cr. P.C, 1973”), and 32 witnesses are interviewed again and their statements are recorded in all connected incidents of the case.

Further, it is submitted that the accused in the present case have been examined under section 41(A) Cr. P.C.,1973, i.e.,  Tr. Rajesh Das, IPS, Special Director General of Police (under suspension), Tr.Kannan, Superintendent of Police (under suspension) and Tr. Gunasekaran, Superintendent of Police, PEW, Salem.

It is submitted further in the report that, five DVR/NVRs, seized for CCTV footages and the mobile phone of A1 have been handed over to Hon’ble CJM, Villupuram and forwarded to TNFSD for analysis among which analysis report of  2DVR and 1 mobile is received but 3 DVR reports are awaited.

Further, it is submitted that CDRs of Accused and witnesses contain corroboratory evidence request for a certificate under Section 65B IEA has been sent to mobile service providers on 03.06.2021 and the same is yet to be received.

It is finally submitted  that a copy of the Internal Complaints Committee report was received on 12.05.2021 and analyzed

Lastly, taking into consideration the Status Report filed by the Investigation Officer and also the submissions made by the learned Advocate General and the learned State Public Prosecutor, the Hon’ble Court granted an extension of the time for filing of the final report.