Navy molestation case: Parikkar assures action

With a senior decorated Navy officer being sent on compulsory leave over molestation charges, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today said the NDA government is "sensitive" to such issues and assured strong action if the guilt was proved in the case.
Referring to the officer being asked to go on leave, Parrikar said the "quick action" was taken even before the matter was reported in the media.
"This government is sensitive ... Even for harassment which is a grey area, my instructions are very clear. I don't tolerate (them)," he told reporters here in response to a question on the issue.

He said women should feel safe and comfortable at workplaces, whether in Defence establishments or elsewhere and warned that "we will come down heavily" on accused persons in such issues.
However, charges have to be proved even as a probe was on in this specific case with a Board of Inquiry (BoI) being constituted against the officer, he said.
One of the members in it was a lady officer, he added.

"The concerned doctor has been sent on compulsory leave and a Board of Inquiry put up. We will take action," he said.
The senior decorated Navy officer had been sent on leave after a junior woman officer accused him of molesting her twice, including once at the house of a top admiral.

The woman, a Lieutenant, had recently complained that her senior, a surgeon commander rank, molested her twice.