Putting a question mark on the state government’s claim that women’s safety is a priority, Navi Mumbai police have taken nearly a month to lodge an FIR in a case alleging sexual harassment at the workplace.
Belpaur police refused to register an FIR claiming the victim’s case lacked evidence
Putting a question mark on the state government’s claim that women’s safety is a priority, Navi Mumbai police have taken nearly a month to lodge an FIR in a case alleging sexual harassment at the workplace.
On May 31, Beena Sawant (name changed), a receptionist with BP Marine Academy, Belapur, had given a written complaint to the police alleging that she was sexually harassed by the academy’s chairman RC Singh. For nearly a month, Sawant, 37, was made to run around while the Belapur police station refused to register an FIR as her case “lacked evidence”. It was only after the intervention of an NGO, India Centre for Human Rights and Law (ICHRL), that the FIR was registered on Wednesday night.
Justifying the delay Navi Mumbai police commissioner Ramrao Wagh said, “Even the courts have allowed the police to conduct a preliminary inquiry to verify a case before filing the FIR.” When asked if there was a timeframe for completing the preliminary inquiry, Wagh said that the FIR was lodged after the investigating officer was “convinced that a preliminary case is made out.”
The delay, however, may hamper the case. “The academy’s office is fitted with webcams. Had the police acted promptly they could have got the footage of Sawant crying after she was allegedly molested. The footage may have been erased now,” an ICHRL activist said.
Wagh claimed that the complaint was filed two months after the alleged incident and only after Sawant was fired. Refuting the statement Sawant told DNA that she wanted to quit the job but Singh refused to pay her dues. The last incident allegedly occurred on May 27 after which she called up the women’s helpline, 103, and gave a written complaint to the police on May 31.
Singh, the prime accused in the case, has been running the academy that offers courses for merchant navy aspirants at two sprawling complexes in Belapur and Panvel, for over 10 years. He is also believed to be politically well-connected. However, when contacted, Singh was not available for comment.
Sawant joined the academy as a receptionist in March. Within 10 days, Singh allegedly told her that he had been observing her on the webcamera and complimented her on her “smart dress code” and “intelligence”. He then allegedly started calling her on the intercom and used foul language. On two occasions he sexually molested her in his cabin. Ramesh Mohite, senior police inspector of CBD Belapur police station, said that Singh had been questioned and a chargesheet would be filed soon.
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