The Gauhati High Court has refused interim relief to the National President of the Indian Youth Congress, Srinivas BV, on April 26, concerning the harassment complaint filed by former Assam Youth Congress President Angkita Dutta. As a result, Srinivas BV has moved the Gauhati High Court to dismiss Angkita Dutta’s complaint against him.
It is pertinent to note that Angkita Dutta was expelled from Congress for six years, citing ‘anti-party activities’ after she alleged that Srinivas BV of persistently harassed her for the past six months, made sexist comments and threatened dire consequences if she complained against him.
Justice Ajit Borthakur stated that reviewing the case diary, including the victim woman’s statement, was necessary for a fair determination under Section 164 CrPC before considering the petitioner’s interim motion.
Thereafter, the Court denied interim relief to Srinivas BV for quashing the FIR, stating that the same would be considered after receiving a scanned copy of the case diary and serving notice to the complainant. The case has been scheduled for a hearing on May 2.
Advocate General Devajit Lon Saikia, the state government’s counsel, said, “Srinivas B.V. filed a plea for quashing the FIR lodged against him. However, the court has fixed the matter on May 2 for further consideration.” Furthermore, he said that the Court had requested the case diary on May 2, meaning that Srinivas BV would have to appear before the Assam Police on May 2 at Dispur Police Station in Guwahati.
A notice has been served by the Assam Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at Srinivas BV’s residence in Bengaluru, telling him to appear in Guwahati before the police. Furthermore, he was asked in the notice not to do any evidence tampering and make any threat, inducement, or promise to anyone acquainted with the facts of the case.
On April 18, in a series of tweets, Angkita Dutta revealed that she had been harassed by Congress leader Srinivas BV and accused Congress’s high command of being uninterested in her issue.
On April 19, Angkita Dutta filed a complaint at Dispur police station in Assam, accusing Srinivas BV of mentally and physically harassing her for the past six months. In addition, he was accused of making sexist remarks and threatening to sue her if she complained about him.
She stated in her complaint, “Recently, on March 25, 2023, when I was in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, I went to Hotel May Fair in the evening to meet the office bearers of the Congress. Bhupen Borah, state president of Congress, was there for the plenary session. I ran into Srinivas BV there at the entrance of the hotel. He heckled me, holding my arm, pushing and pulling me and threatening me, using slang words, saying that he will ruin my career in the Congress if I complained against him before the high office-bearers of the party.”
Also Read: https://organiser.org/2023/04/22/170368/bharat/assam-congress-expels-angkita-dutta-days-after-she-complained-about-harassment-by-iyc-president-srinivas-bv/
She added, “On several occasions, I informed the high office-bearers of the Congress about such behaviour of the accused. However, that bore no result. As I think that the offence committed by the accused against me should not go unpunished, I have decided to lodge this complaint against him,” and urged the Assam Police to take action against him.
It is pertinent to note that instead of acting on her complaint, the Congress served a legal notice to the complainant Angkita Dutta. Furthermore, she was removed from the post of Assam Pradesh Youth Congress President and the party’s primary membership for six years for indulging in ‘anti-party activities’.
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