JNU Sexual Harassment Case: Delhi Court Directs Police To Give 7-Day Notice Before Coercive Action Against Congress MP
A Delhi Court disposed of Congress MP Angomcha Bimol Akoijam’s anticipatory bail plea, directing Delhi Police to give him seven days’ prior notice before taking any coercive action, including arrest, in a sexual harassment case involving allegations by female JNU students
Delhi Court directs police to give seven days' prior notice before taking coercive action against Congress MP and JNU professor Angomcha Bimol Akoijam in a sexual harassment case
A Delhi Court on Thursday directed Delhi Police to give seven days’ prior notice to Congress MP and suspended Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) professor Angomcha Bimol Akoijam before taking any coercive action against him in a sexual harassment case.
Special Judge Dig Vinay Singh of Rouse Avenue Court passed the direction while disposing of Akoijam’s anticipatory bail plea. The Court clarified that the police would have to give him seven days’ notice if his arrest was required.
A detailed order is awaited.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Court had sought a response from Delhi Police on Akoijam’s anticipatory bail plea.
The case relates to sexual harassment allegations levelled against Akoijam by female students of JNU. According to reports, at least 11 female students had filed complaints against him in May.
The complainants alleged that Akoijam invited students to his campus residence under the pretext of meetings or gatherings and attempted to sexually harass them. Some students also alleged that he made obscene and inappropriate remarks during classes.
Delhi Police registered an FIR against the Congress MP on October 12, days after JNU dismissed him from service over the allegations.
The FIR was registered at Vasant Kunj North Police Station on the basis of a complaint and documents submitted by JNU Chief Security Officer (CSO).
According to the FIR, the university's Internal Committee (IC) had conducted an inquiry into the allegations raised by various complainants and forwarded its findings, assessment and observations to the police.
The FIR stated that the allegations against Akoijam, who was associated with the Centre for Studies of Social Systems, School of Social Sciences, JNU, had been examined by the Internal Committee after assessing the statements of witnesses, defence witnesses and other material placed before it.
Akoijam has termed his dismissal a “witch hunt” and raised questions over the due process followed by the university.
In a separate development, the Delhi High Court on November 2 stayed JNU's decision to terminate Akoijam's services. The High Court issued notice to the university on his petition challenging the termination order.
The matter before the High Court is listed for hearing in January.
It is to be noted that on October 29, Akoijam was granted interim protection by the Patiala House Court. The case was transferred, and thereafter he moved to the Rouse Avenue Court in view of a jurisdiction issue, as he is a sitting MP from Manipur.
He had moved to the Patiala House Court for anticipatory bail in view of the jurisdiction of Police Station Vasant Kunj North. However, the Court said that it could not hear the anticipatory bail plea as Akoijam is a sitting MP.
Therefore, the jurisdiction lies with the Rouse Avenue court. The investigating officer also opposed the bail plea on this ground. Thereafter, the court granted him interim protection till November 2. Meanwhile, on Monday, i.e. November 2, the counsel for Akoijam moved the Rouse Avenue by filing the application online.
[Inputs: ANI and PTI]