The police have opened an inquiry into the allegation that the daughter of a ranking officer had assaulted her father’s official driver.
The alleged incident occurred near the Museum grounds on Wednesday. The ‘victim,’ Gavaskar, is the official driver of Sudheesh Kumar, ADGP, Kerala Armed Police Battalions. Mr. Gavaskar said he had chauffeured the officer and his family for their morning walk at the Museum grounds. On their return, Mr. Kumar’s daughter, Snigdha Lakshmi, allegedly assaulted him with her mobile phone while the car was parked and he was in the driving seat.
He told the police that Ms. Lakshmi “hit him on his neck from behind at least three times with her cell phone.” Investigators said Mr. Gavaskar felt faint and got himself admitted to the Government Hospital, Peroorkada. Doctors found wounds on his neck and shoulder. They referred him to the Medical College Hospital for a spinal cord scan.
Mr. Gavaskar told doctors that he sustained the injuries in the attack. They intimated the police. He told investigators that Ms. Lakshmi suspected that he was responsible for a spat she had with her father recently.
Her complaint
The Museum police are yet to register a case. They said a parallel inquiry was on against Mr. Gavaskar on a complaint filed by Ms. Lakshmi. She accused the driver of grabbing her hand and speaking to her in a derogatory manner.
A senior official said the police driver was on duty and it appeared that the accused had used criminal force to deter the public servant from discharging his duty under Section 353 of the IPC. He said the alleged offence could also attract Section 323 for voluntarily causing hurt.
Mr. Gavaskar faced the prospect of being charged with outraging the modesty of a woman and verbal abuse. The police said they would register cases only if both the parties pressed charges.