An Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) worker, who had accused a fellow AAP volunteer of sexually harassing her last month, committed suicide at her residence in Outer Delhi's Narela on Tuesday.
Her family alleged that the woman was being threatened by one Ramesh Wadhwa, the man whom she had accused of making an indecent offer in exchange for promotion in the party ranks.
They also alleged that after failing to get any justice from the higher-ups in the party, she consumed poison.
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The first case registered last month was under Sections 506 (Punishment for criminal intimidation) and 509 (Word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), police said.
But since coming out on bail, Mr. Wadhwa continued to harass the woman, alleged her husband.
“My wife was harassed and she remained depressed. Recently she had received a letter demanding that she withdraw the complaint against Wadhwa. However, she did not give up and kept going to the police,” said her husband.
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Her daughter added that on the day of committing suicide she had shut her salon early, returned home and consumed a cold drink laced with poison.
The probe into both the cases – the sexual harassment and the abetment to suicide case registered after the death – were transferred to the Delhi Police Crime Branch and a Special Investigating Team (SIT) has been set up to probe the matter.
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has ordered a magisterial probe.
Meanwhile, the incident also sparked a war of words between the BJP and the AAP. While the AAP distanced itself from Mr. Wadwha, the BJP accused that the incident had exposed the “true face of the AAP”.
Delhi Women Commission (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal expressed concern over the incident and demanded stringent action against those behind Soni’s suicide.
“Very sad case of Soni suicide. DCW counsellor met SHO, ACP and got her FIR filed. Court gave bail to accused. We demand strictest action in this case,” tweeted
Ms. Maliwal had announced that the DCW would set up special counselling centre for women dealing with depression in another one of her tweets.