Sexual harassment case against Delhi's ex-chief secretary

A case of sexual harassment was registered against former Chief Secretary Omesh Saigal on Saturday after a complaint of a 52-year-old woman was forwarded to the Delhi Police by the Delhi Commission for Women. Saigal has termed the charge "false".

"We have registered a case against Omesh Saigal under Section 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of the Indian Penal Code," Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (South), Nupur Prasad told IANS.

She said that the alleged incident took place on June 18, when the women went for swimming in pool of the Panchshila club, of which Saigal is also president, in south Delhi. In her complaint, she mentioned that the accused blocked her way while she was swimming.

The complainant, who approached the DCW on June 23, claimed that he had on earlier occasions also deliberately blocked her way while swimming which led her into arguments with him.

DCW chief Swati Maliwal took strong note of the suspension of complainant and her husband's club membership.

"Instead of forwarding the complaint to the Local Complaints Committee under the Prevention of Sexual Harassment at Work Place Act, 2013, the complaint was heard by a sub-committee set up by the management committee of the club. Also, subsequently, in blatant disregard of the act, the club membership of the complainant and her husband was suspended," the DCW said in a notice to the club.

Saigal meanwhile told IANS: "Charges against me are absolutely false."

"I have also filed a defamation case against the woman in Saket court and a notice was served to her on June 22," he added.

--IANS

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