A three-member, all-women special investigation team (SIT), headed by an additional director general of police (ADGP)-rank IPS officer, has found allegations in a viral sexual harassment letter against a Haryana IPS officer to be “baseless.” The letter, purportedly signed by seven women police officials, surfaced on social media in 2024, accusing the officer of sexual harassment and naming two women police officials as his “facilitators.” A senior Haryana police officer told The Indian Express on Wednesday that the SIT had submitted its final report, stating that the allegations were unfounded. The officer said the SIT had recorded statements from 168 female officials during the probe and reviewed their service records. “None of the female officials named in the purported letter were posted in the district concerned during the IPS officer’s tenure. Statements were recorded from all women officials who had served in the district, even for a day during that period, and still, the allegations were found baseless,” the officer added. The SIT, led by ADGP (State Crime Branch) Mamta Singh, included IPS officers Astha Modi and Sangeeta Kalia. It began its probe in November 2024 after the letter, addressed to the Haryana chief minister, went viral. Initially, Fatehabad superintendent of police Modi was tasked with investigating the matter. However, the government later formed the SIT to take over the probe. According to sources, the government received inputs suggesting that the two women officers named in the letter could influence the investigation. Following this, both officers were transferred out of the district, along with the IPS officer facing the allegations. His transfer followed a recommendation from Haryana State Commission for Women chairperson Renu Bhatia.
