Thiruvananthapuram: Excise minister T P Ramakrishnan informed the assembly on Thursday that a departmental probe was on into the sexual
harassment complaint against excise officers.
The anonymous complaint, purportedly from a group of women officers in
excise department, was referred to the government by state human rights commission.
Replying to a submission by opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala, Ramakrishnan said the government did not receive any direct
complaint from anyone as hinted in the anonymous plaint.
“It’s a shame on the state, if the allegations are true. Now, the government has sought report from the excise officials against whom the allegations were raised. Instead of entrusting the probe with excise officials themselves, it should engage a senior woman IPS official with the investigation,” said Chennithala.
However, both the chief minister and excise minister said the rights panel did talk highly of the excise commissioner and it would be better to wait for his report regarding the allegations, instead of exploring other options at this juncture.
