The Central Bureau of Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID) of Tamil Nadu Police has issued a lookout circular (LOC) against retired Director General of Police (DGP) Rajesh Das, who has been sentenced to three years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually harassing a woman Superintendent of Police (SP).
Das, who was supposed to commence serving his prison term, has reportedly gone missing from his residence. The CB-CID’s LOC, circulated to all airports, aims to prevent him from leaving the country and evade justice.
The case of sexual harassment dates back to an incident when Rajesh Das and the female officer were tasked with overseeing security arrangements for the then Chief Minister, Edappadi K Palaniswami, during an assembly election campaign in February 2021. The disturbing incident sheds light on the challenges faced by women in positions of authority, even within law enforcement agencies.
Last year, on June 16, the Villupuram Chief Judicial Magistrate Court convicted Das under Section 4 of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Woman (Amendment) Act, 2002, and sentenced him to three years of rigorous imprisonment. The severity of the sentence underscores the gravity of the offense and the commitment of the judiciary to uphold the rights and dignity of women in the workplace.