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State flayed on sexual harassment probe

BHUBANESWAR: Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly J.B. Patnaik on Sunday blamed the State government for creating a puzzling situation with regard to the investigation into the allegations of sexual harassment against former Speaker Maheswar Mohanty. In a statement, Mr. Patnaik said the State Human Rights Commission could not probe into the allegations as the State Commission for Women had already started its inquiry into the case.

The government had created a confusing situation by requesting the Human Rights Commission to conduct a probe into the controversy when the Women’s Commission as well as the State police were already investigating the case, the Opposition Leader said.

If the government was sincere in its approach and wanted a fair inquiry to be done into the whole matter, it should immediately transfer the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation, Mr. Patnaik said.

Meanwhile, the city police examined four employees of the Assembly along with a retired staff member in connection with the case. Earlier, the police had recorded the statement of suspended woman marshal of the Assembly Gayatri Panda on whose complaint the sexual harassment case had been registered.

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