Despite Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna’s announcement about a probe into the allegations of sexual harassment made by a woman against Nainital ASP Pramendra Dobal, the CB-CID inquiry has not yet been started though an FIR has already been registered at the local Haldwani police station in this regard.
It should be noted that since the aforesaid case is related to a woman, the Chief Minister took a serious note of it and announced a probe into this matter by CB-CID to ensure a fair inquiry into this case.
Though the Nainital district police has already ordered an inquiry into this matter by ASP Udham Singh Nagar, there is no progress as far as conducting a CB-CID probe is concerned.
“Since we have received no direction in regard to conducting an inquiry into this case by the CB-CID in written, we can’t do so,” said Nainital Senior Superintendent of Police Sadanand Date while talking to The Pioneer.
“Now it is up to the Government to decide. But we have already ordered an investigation into this matter. The Udham Singh Nagar ASP is conducting an inquiry into this case,” added Date.
At the same time, Date further said that the victim is not cooperating with the investigating police team.
Though ASP US Nagar, Yashwant Singh is investigating the case, it is to be seen how does the matter get solved that hogged limelight when the victim staged protest in Dehradun in a few days ago demanding action against Dobal.
It may be recalled that an FIR was registered against Nainital ASP Pramendra Dobal, under Sections 328, 376 and 506 of the IPC at the local police station Haldwani on May 9 following the woman’s complaint.
Since Dobal is presently posted at Haldwani, perhaps in a bid to avoid any suspicion on the fairness of the investigation into the case, the investigation of this case was then handed over to the ASP Udham Singh Nagar. However, there is no deadline given to the investigating police team to probe this matter.
It may be recalled that the woman was staging protest in the State capital last week demanding action against the Nainital ASP.
But the matter of fact is that the FIR could be registered against the ASP Nainital as demanded by the woman only when the Chief Minister intervened into this matter on Wednesday and taking all the necessary information he ordered lodging an FIR in this case. Besides, the Chief Minister then also announced a probe into this case by CB-CID.