Delhi lab assistant case: Government silent on probe

The Delhi government Tuesday brushed aside a probe into the suicide of former employee of Delhi University college, saying it can be launched only if her sexual harassment complaint against the institution's principal is found "substantial".

"It has to be seen whether the complaint is substantial. The police are already investigating the case. Though this Delhi University college is funded by our government, the vice chancellor is looking into it," said Delhi Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely here.

When asked why there was a delay by the state government in launching a departmental inquiry into the case, Lovely said that Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has already spoken to Delhi Police Commissioner B.S. Bassi.

Pavitra Bhardwaj, 40, was a former Ambedkar College lab attendant. On Sep 30, she set herself ablaze outside the Delhi Chief Minister's Office and died of her injuries Monday.

She had alleged sexual harassment by college principal V.K. Arora, who has dismissed the charges.

Lovely described the incident as "unfortunate" and said the "guilty should be punished".

In her plea, the woman had said the college principal was sexually harassing her for four years and had even threatened to kill her son.

In her testimony before the sub-divisional magistrate, she alleged that the principal was asking for sexual favours and after she filed a complaint, she was fired for misconduct.

However, the college principal in a statement denied the charges and said he was being framed.