New Delhi: A court granted dismissed Jawaharlal Nehru University professor Angomcha Bimol Akoijam protection from immediate arrest in a sexual harassment case, directing police to give him seven working days’ written notice before taking him into custody.
The committee’s report was forwarded to police on Oct 11 and an FIR was registered at Vasant Kunj North police station.
The direction came after additional public prosecutor Manish Rawat submitted that police were “not contemplating arrest of the applicant in the present matter, given the nature of allegation and the stage of investigation”. It also considered that the offences carried a maximum punishment of three years’ imprisonment, and Akoijam had “clean antecedents” and joined the investigation when called by police, appearing before the IO once. Rawat assured the court that if any material change during the investigation necessitated his arrest, police would serve him seven days’ prior notice. The court noted that the IO hadn’t yet examined any complainant as the university was yet to furnish their particulars.
If the IO considers custodial interrogation or arrest necessary, a “clear seven court working days’ written notice” must be served on him physically and not through electronic modes, the judge said. Special judge Dig Vinay Singh directed the investigating officer (IO) not to take any coercive action against Akoijam, also a Congress MP, without serving him a physical notice, allowing him time to approach a court for legal remedies.
The case stems from a May 18 complaint by at least 11 JNU students alleging sexual harassment and inappropriate conduct by Akoijam. A five-member JNU committee recommended major disciplinary action, following which he was dismissed on Oct 9. Delhi High Court stayed the dismissal on Nov 2.
The MP has been directed to continue joining the investigation whenever called, while police have been asked “not to resort to any coercive process… without giving him a written notice as suggested by the investigating agency itself”. The judge said the investigating officer could approach the court for appropriate directions in case of non-cooperation.