SC grants anticipatory bail to Cong leader Srinivas BV in Angkita Dutta harassment case

SC issued notices to the Assam government seeking their replies in the matter by July 10. The top court also directed Srinivas to cooperate in the investigation and appear before

The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted anticipatory bail to Indian Youth Congress president Srinivas BV in a harassment and gender discrimination case lodged by now expelled Assam Congress leader Angkita Dutta.

Hearing the case, a bench of Supreme Court Justices B R Gavai and Sanjay Karol issued notices to the Assam government, seeking their replies in the matter by July 10. The top court also directed Srinivas to cooperate in the investigation and appear before the police on May 22.

“Taking into consideration the one-month delay in lodging FIR, the petitioner is entitled to interim protection,” the Supreme Court bench said.

On April 19, expelled Assam Youth Congress president Angkita Dutta had filed a complaint at Dispur police station alleging that Srinivas was “persistently harassing and torturing her for the last six months by making sexist comments, using slang words and also threatening her dire consequences if she keeps complaining against him to the senior party office bearers”.

Based on her complaint, an FIR was registered to book Srinivas under Sections 352 (assault or criminal force), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 354A (1)(iv) (sexual harassment) of the Indian Penal Code.

A five-member Guwahati police team went to Bengaluru on April 23 and pasted a notice at his residence directing him to appear at the Dispur Police station by May 2.

On May 2, Srinivas filed for anticipatory bail at the Gauhati High Court and quashing of the FIR against him. On May 4, the Gauhati High Court rejected the bail plea and dismissed the petition to quash the FIR. By May 8, Srinivas approached the Supreme Court seeking relief.

The Congress had issued show cause notice to Dutta and later expelled her from the party’s primary membership for six years for anti-party activities.

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