ICC report on doctor’s complaint against MS ‘stolen’, complaint filed

The matter relates to the sexual harassment complaint filed by the doctor in October last year, accusing the MS of inappropriate behaviour, messages and calls. In her complaint to the Health and Family Welfare Secretary, she alleged that she had sought a transfer because of his behaviour, but her request was ignored. She also alleged that after she filed a complaint, she was removed from her post as head of a department, warned to withdraw her complaint, and then reinstated without any explanation.

The complainant was later transferred to a different hospital. The Indian Express reached out to the MS, but he remained unavailable for a comment.

The ICC was set up in February.

In a complaint filed at the IP Estate Police Station on June 5 this year, the ICC member and health department official said: “It was discovered on May 20, 2024 that this file (ICC report)… was missing from the undersigned’s designated room (in the) Delhi Secretariat.”

ICC reports are confidential in nature.

According to the complaint, CCTV footage revealed that a nursing orderly attached to the office of the Special Secretary (Health) had taken the file. The Special Secretary (Vigilance) was informed and action was sought against the nursing orderly. The file was returned four days later, and the nursing orderly was suspended on June 4, the official said in his complaint.

Expressing concern over the “stealing of official record”, the official said he requested immediate action against the nursing orderly, identified as Sunil Kumar, for his “serious and alarming activity” as it indicated “connivance of the office staff and outside interference in obstructing the inquiry/ its outcome”.

The ICC report was submitted later in May.

Meanwhile, asked about the complaint filed by the official, a senior police officer said: “An FIR has not been registered yet. Investigation in the matter is underway.”

Over the last few days, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has been raising the issue of the complaint against the MS, asking why no action has been taken against him. The party’s Rajya Sabha MP, Sanjay Singh, has also questioned Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena regarding the matter.

Earlier, Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj had also written to the L-G, saying he was kept in the dark about the case for nearly a year. He also sought action against the MS.

With inputs from Pragynesh