The Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have demanded an inquiry into a letter allegedly written by Yavatmal prison’s superintendent claiming that women police officials were regularly bullied, exploited and pressured into maintaining sexual relationships with a Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of police.
While Yavatmal prison’s superintendent of police Kirti Chintamani Dahale has denied having written such a letter, Neelam Gorhe, member of the State Legislative Council and Shiv Sena spokesperson has written to the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis seeking a probe into the allegations made against DIG Yogesh Desai.
Speaking to The Hindu, Ms. Dahale said, “This mental harassment has to stop now, or I will initiate legal action. I have not written any letter complaining about sexual harassment of women police officials attached to the Yavatmal prison by superior officers.” The officer claimed that she had already clarified her position to Ms. Gorhe, who had contacted her over the issue.
Ms. Dahale said, “While I am still to receive a copy of the alleged complaint attributed to me [as promised by Gorhe], the leader has apparently written to the Chief Minister seeking an inquiry on the basis of the fake letter. This is causing me immense anguish and is nothing but mental harassment.”
‘Suspend errant officers’
NCP leader Nawab Malik also raised the issue of alleged sexual harassment and sustained exploitation of women police officials attached to the Yevatmal prison. Speaking to mediapersons, Malik said, “There are specific allegations made in the letter citing particular instances and names of police officials involved in the sexual exploitation of 60 to 70 policewomen. We demand that a thorough inquiry be conducted.”
Mr. Malik also said that the prison system had to be overhauled and all police officers named in the complaint should be suspended. He said, “First there were mobile phones being seized in the prisons, then an inmate’s death at Byculla Women’s Prison was reported, with sexual exploitation being established. We want Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to respond.”
Sources in Ms. Gorhe’s office when contacted said, “Ms. Dahale has denied having penned the complaint against her superiors. In the letter, she has specifically mentioned 10 incidents where women police officials were bullied, exploited and pressured into maintaining sexual relations with one superior police officer. Keeping this in mind, Ms. Gore has sought an impartial inquiry into the contents of the letter by police administrators unrelated to prison operations, so that there is no inherent bias in the investigation.”
Ms. Dahale on Thursday was full of praise for DIG Desai. “The DIG is one of the most talented superiors in the department (prisons department) and a role model. Many officials have benefitted from his guidance on complicated issues of prison administration. I have still not received a copy of the alleged complaint letter from Ms Gorhe who did not send it to me on wassup even five days since she spoke to me and assured me on the same. I will take (legal) action if this mental harassment does not stop.”
DIG Desai told The Hindu , “This is a very unfortunate situation. When the woman has said she has not written the complaint why is such a fuss being made over the letter that is clearly aimed at tarnishing her image. This is not to say that there are no complaints regarding prison adminsitration. However, there are safeguards such as a male officer not being permitted to visit a women’s jail and similar other directives.”
