Maharastra Police: Mumbai: IPS Had famously told a female junior: ‘Aap aaye, bahaar aayi’, Now State Human Rights Commission ordered him to pay a Rs 50,000 fine....

In a landmark order the State Human Rights Commission has asked a senior IPS officer to pay a Rs 50,000 fine to his junior female colleague for sexual harassment. The case which had created a stir in Mumbai police circles when it was first reported in 2002, involves IPS officer Jawahar Singh, at present under suspension for another matter, and Assistant Police Inspector Neelam Bhagat who is now with the state CID (Criminal Investigations Department) in Kolhapur. In March 2002, Bhagat was posted as sub-inspector in the anti-narcotics wing of the Mumbai police where Singh was the Deputy Police of Commissioner.

According to her complaint, filed on March 1, 2002, Singh had called Neelam Bhagat into his room over consecutive days and passed deeply offensive remarks about her clothing, at first calling it flimsy, and then on another day berating her for covering herself up. Singh allegedly said: “Why do you have to cover yourself with a dupatta so tightly that nothing can be seen? You could have worn it higher.” On a third occasion, he called her into his office and famously remarked: 'Aap aaye, bahaar aayi.' A distressed Bhagat had burst into tears and rushed out, but later she filed an official complaint against Jawahar Singh. Initially, the complaint was not taken seriously and Bhagat was offered a transfer from the department, which she refused. But after the matter was reported in the media, Jawahar Singh was transferred.

An inquiry conducted by then Additional Chief Secretary (Home) was inconclusive after which Bhagat took up the matter with the State Human Rights Commission. Finally, nine years after her ordeal, the complaint redressal committee ruled in her favour and ordered the compensation which will be recovered from Singh, confirmed a senior home department officer, adding that an order to this effect had been issued on September 23. Singh, who remains a controversial officer-he was suspended as Inspector General (Jails) after conducting a sting operation against another woman colleague, Aurangabag jail superintendent Swati Sathe, ostensibly to show her in poor light - refused to comment on the SHRC compensation saying they had not called him for a hearing. Neelam Bhagat, too, refused to comment on the matter.