In a fresh development in #MeToo movement, top Assam police official Mukesh Agrawal has been accused of sexual harassment by one of her junior police officers.
In a post on Facebok on Sunday, Majuli (HQ) ASP Leena Doley accused ADGP (L&O) Mukesh Agrawal of sexually harassing her at workplace and added that she received no justice till today.
In the post Doley mentioned that she had been subject to sexual harassment at workplace in 2012 by top cop Agrawal, who was then posted as IGP (Logistic).
“I am a survivor of sexual harassment at the workplace. In the March of 2012, one of my seniors, Mukesh Agrawal, IPS, IGP (L), Assam, now ADGP (L&O), Assam, Guwahati, offered to take me on a holiday with him for the efficient work I had done.I of course refused and took to the natural course of justice. I had no intention of taking a holiday with my boss. And I said so to my organisation boss – the DGP, Assam,” she shared.
“Anyway, a lot transpired after that – my written complaint against Mukesh Agrawal, IPS, IGP (L), Assam, now ADGP (L&O), Assam, Guwahati.
“To cut a long story short, my husband committed suicide after around six months of my submitting my complaint against Mukesh Agrawal,” she continued.
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In her post Doley recounted that after filing the complaint, the then Addl. Chief Secretary Emily Choudhury came to her house and assured her that it was not because of the complaint that her husband committed suicide.
“ The Enquiry Officer, Emily Choudhury, IAS, the then Addl. Chief Secretary, Assam, came to my house on the first day itself, the soonest possible, to assure me that it was not because of the complaint that my husband killed himself. I didn’t react. I was beyond any reaction. But the enquiry procedures had not started till then,” mentioned the Majuli ASP.
Doley claimed that her case was dismissed despite IAS officer Agrawal himself had admitted to his misconduct.
“My case was dismissed as one of misunderstanding although the perpetrator himself had admitted to the fact that the perpetrator had asked me to accompany him to a holiday destination without of course telling my husband,” she said.
“Also, the wife of the perpetrator had filed a defamation case against me for supposedly defaming her husband. I filed a revision petition against it in the Gauhati High Court. I won the case in the High Court.
“I’m now beyond any redemption. I only feel some kind of contentment that the case against me resulted in a judgement that complainants cannot be persecuted upon for filing a case against sexual predators,” Doley said.
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She said that she never got justice the complaint she filed. “The enquiry committee concluded that it was a misunderstanding even when the perpetrator himself admitted to the fact of the allegation made by me,” Doley stated.
The woman police officer also mentioned that her husband committed suicide on a different ground. Doley said she was prompted to share her story after #MeToo movement gained momentum.
“And I’m sure, after my experience, no one else would come out with their stories in govt. departments. I’m an example of defeat. But still, for all of us, who have stood against it, strength to us!! #MeToo,” she mentioned.
No comment from Agrawal was available as he did not answer the phones calls from Northeast Now.