MUMBAI – In a landmark order the State Human Rights Commission has asked a senior IPS officer to pay a Rs 50,000 fine to his junior female colleague for sexual harassment.
The case which had created a stir in Mumbai police circles when it was first reported in 2002, involves IPS officer Jawahar Singh, at present under suspension for another matter, and Assistant Police Inspector Neelam Bhagat who is now with the state CID (Criminal Investigations Department) in Kolhapur.
In March 2002, Bhagat was posted as sub-inspector in the anti-narcotics wing of the Mumbai police where Singh was the Deputy Police of Commissioner.
According to her complaint, filed on March 1, 2002, Singh had called Neelam Bhagat into his room over consecutive days and passed deeply offensive remarks about her clothing, at first calling it flimsy, and then on another day berating her for covering herself up.
Singh allegedly said: “Why do you have to cover yourself with a dupatta so tightly that nothing can be seen? You could have worn it higher.”
On a third occasion, he called her into his office and famously remarked: ‘Aap aaye, bahaar aayi.’
A distressed Bhagat had burst into tears and rushed out, but later she filed an official complaint against Jawahar Singh.
Initially, the complaint was not taken seriously and Bhagat was offered a transfer from the department, which she refused. But after the matter was reported in the media, Jawahar Singh was transferred.
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