The Kerala police has launched an inquiry into a verbal complaint raised by a woman against a senior police officer who allegedly misbehaved with her at a public event in Kollam recently.
A two-day event-International Cyber Security and Policing Conference-was held by the cyber cell in Kollam on August 19 and 20.
DGP Loknath Behera confirmed to The News Minute that an inquiry has already been initiated following a verbal complaint by the woman. He added that IG Manoj Abraham has submitted an inquiry report. Behera also said that the woman, who compered the event, has not filed a written complaint so far.
However, he refused to divulge any details pertaining to the issue.
Manorama news reports that the woman, an undergraduate student alleged that the officer, who sat next to her at the event, misbehaved with her and passed unnecessary comments.
The report also says that the DysP was ousted from the function after the woman complained to an officer.
The DySP against whom the inquiry has been initiated denied the allegations in a telephonic conversation with The News Minute.
He also pointed out that the police department has not communicated what the allegations against him are.
The officer, who was the in-charge of Hi-tech cell claimed he voluntarily handed over his charge to another officer.
Dismissing media reports that he was present at the venue despite not being assigned duty, the officer said, “The two-day event was organized by our department and I had been actively involved in the arrangements. Till the moment the event was concluded on Sunday evening, there were no untoward incidents reported. I’m surprised at seeing reports that say the woman ran away to protect herself.”
He claimed that he had been in good terms with the Master of Ceremonies (MC) throughout the course of the event and had even helped her prepare lines for the event.
"I'm thoroughly baffled right now. The department has not asked for my side of the matter at all and must have decided to act of the IG's report. I believe they must be ready to hear my version too," the officer said.