Allegations of workplace harassment were raised in connection with the death of the A Grade Assistant Sub Inspector after a WhatsApp message, reportedly posted by the victim in his police station group, started going the rounds in the social media groups of police personnel.
In the post, the deceased cop, P.C. Babu, blamed the Thadiyittaparambu Sub Inspector for his decision to end to his life and demanded that the officer be taken to task. Reportedly, he had gone on medical leave for 15 days following his issues with Sub Inspector R. Rajesh. However, Mr. Rajesh said that the victim used to go on medical leave often. “He had gone on medical leave four or five times this year alone,” said Mr. Rajesh who had sent a report to the District Police Chief (Ernakulam Rural) asking to constitute a medical board to investigate the genuineness of the victim’s frequent medical leaves. Asked whether the victim was undergoing treatment for any prolonged illness, he said that he wasn’t aware of any such thing. Anil, the brother-in-law of the deceased, said that the victim was forced to go on medical leave following issues at the police station. It was clear from the WhatsApp message, he said.
Mr. Rajesh was in charge of the police station after the Inspector there had gone on Sabarimala duty recently.
It is learnt that a delegation of police personnel representing a police association had come to meet Mr. Rajesh on receiving complaints about the officer from the victim and others in the station. However, they could not meet the officer as he was late to come back from patrol duty. The delegation had plans to meet the officer again on Wednesday but dropped it on hearing about the death of the ASI.
