In a case of sexual harassment of women at the workplace, a senior officer of the local police station has been accused of sending lewd SMSs to a subordinate woman employee and subjecting her to “indecent behaviour”.
Both the accused and the victim are posted at the Kendrapada police station. The victim has alleged that her male superior got wild with her for her opposing his repeated amorous advances and “indecent behavior”. She said the officer got spiteful and sent her on election duty in Ganjam district to “punish” her.
A special cell constituted to look into such complaints is examining it to ascertain the veracity of the charge, said Sub-Divisional Police Officer, Nrusingha Charan Swain. This is the first case in Kendrapada that is being inquired into under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.
Since the act came in force last year, no complaint had been lodged in this regard earlier. Based on the complaint of the victim, the cell headed by a woman police inspector is conducting the probe. legal action would be initiated after the cell submits its findings and recommendations, sources said.