No bias in investigation into Arakkonam sexual harassment case: Ranipet SP

The Superintendent of Police (SP), Ranipet, Vivekananda Shukla, on Sunday said there was no bias in the investigation into the sexual harassment case registered on the basis of a complaint by a college student, who said she was forced to marry the accused R. Deivaseyal, a local DMK worker, on January 31 this year.

The statement follows the victim’s May 22 social media allegations that the police investigation had been biased.

Mr. Shukla responded to her allegations, including the claim that Deivaseyal had admitted to forcing her into marriage during interrogation, stating that their investigation found no evidence to support these claims.

“Investigations found that the victim married Deivaseyal unconditionally,” the SP said in the statement. No such admission had been made by the accused. The entire incident had been exaggerated by the victim on social media platforms, the officer added.

Mr. Shukla said that based on the victim’s complaint, the All Women Police Station (AWPS) in Arakkonam town registered a case against Deivaseyal on May 10, refuting her charge that a case was filed only after intervention by political parties. The case was registered under Section 296 (b) (obscene acts and songs in public places), Section 75 (2) (punishment for sexual harassment), Section 82 (2) (polygamy), and Section 35 (1) (right to defend themselves) under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Mr. Shukla said that investigations were under way on other charges raised by the victim. These included a threat by the accused’s first wife and mother on April 17, physical harassment of the victim the following day (April 18) and forcefully taking the victim away from appearing for her examinations on May 5.