NEW DELHI, Jul 2: Police today registered an FIR against former Delhi chief secretary and president of Panchshila Club Omesh Saigal for allegedly molesting a woman member of the club.
The woman has alleged that the accused harassed her by frequently bumping into her while swimming in the pool of the club.
“A case under Section 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) has been registered at Hauz Khas police station on a complaint by the woman and probe has been started,” said a senior police officer.
In her complaint, the woman also accused Saigal of “intimidating” her in several ways when she raised objections to his actions.
The woman had also filed a complaint in the club register and the issue was taken up by the managing committee of the club which further formed a sub-committee to look into the allegations. But, as per her complaint, the committee instead of taking action against Saigal, suspended her and her husband from the club.
The woman then approached Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) which has also issued a notice to Panchshila Club over handling of this complaint seeking to know why the club did not forward the complaint to the local complaints committee and also why the complainant and her husband were suspended.
“Instead of forwarding the complaint to the local complaints committee under the Prevention of Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act, 2013, the complaint was heard by a sub-committee set up by the management committee of the club. Also, subsequently, in blatant disregard of the Prevention of Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act, 2013, the club memberships of the complainant and her husband were suspended,” the DCW notice read.
Saigal countered allegations against him claiming that it was a “minor incident” and the complainant tried to convert it into a “major” issue.
“It was a minor incident which she tried to make into a major issue. There are two swimming lanes and she complained that my hand touched her. I have written to the Deputy Commissioner of Police explaining the whole thing,” he said. (PTI)