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Srinivas denied the allegations and filed a libel suit against Angkita Dutta. (File) On Friday, the Assam police charged the president of the Youth Congress of India, Srinivas BV, with "outrage of modesty of a woman, criminal intimidation and sexual harassment by making sexual comments." The charge is based on a complaint by the former leader of the party's youth wing, Angkita Dutta, who registered at the Dispur police station on Wednesday. You also recorded your statement before a magistrate, which means you can't change your statement now.
The scope of the charges against Srinivas BV in the First Information Report (FIR) includes indecent exposure of a woman, sexual harassment by making comments with a sexual connotation, criminal intimidation, assault and excessive charging.
In addition, the National Commission for Women also found out about the case based on Ms. Dutta's tweet and requested an investigation by the Assam Police. The Assam Police Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which is leading the investigation, will submit a report to the commission.
Notably, this is a separate FIR investigation filed at the Dispur Police Station.
Angkita Dutta alleged that Mr. Srinivas and another IYC leader, Vardhan Yadav, discriminated against her based on her gender and used obscene language to threaten her. Ms. Dutta also claimed that she informed party leaders about the problem, but no action was taken.
The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) found Ms Dutta's allegations "baseless and politically motivated", the sources said.
In addition, the Assam Congress also yesterday issued a just cause notice to Ms. Dutta and asked her to explain why no disciplinary action should be taken against her within 24 hours.
She has since responded to the notice and the response will be shared with the AICC, who will ultimately determine what action to take. The sources said that the Assam Congress will take severe disciplinary action against the prosecution and will likely suspend Ms. Dutta from the party.
Srinivas denied the allegations and filed a libel action against Angkita Dutta for using "defamatory and anti-parliamentary" language against him. He is currently campaigning for Congress in Karnataka ahead of parliamentary elections next month.
