IA completes harassment probe 8211; without asking a single question

NEW DELHI, NOV 26: Even before Verghese John, a roster clerk with the Indian Airlines, got to know that he had been charged with sexually...

NEW DELHI, NOV 26: Even before Verghese John, a roster clerk with the Indian Airlines, got to know that he had been charged with sexually harassing an air hostess, he had been absolved of the charge by the airline8217;s 8220;inquiry8221; into the incident. The complainant wasn8217;t asked a single question either.

Airline officials say this was done to make the inquiry 8220;fair and impartial.8221;

Both John and the 37-year-old air hostess confirmed that they were not aware that the inquiry had been completed 8212; or even initiated 8212; till they read about it in the newspapers. 8220;I am completely depressed, surprised8230;,8221; the air hostess said as she broke into sobs, 8220;I am so discouraged after reading that the IA is saying the charges are false. It seems I committed a mistake,8221; she told The Indian Express.

Similarly, when asked whether he was interrogated during the inquiry, John8217;s first reaction was: 8220;Which inquiry are you talking about?8221;. He said he returned to work on Wednesday afternoon and was not questioned.Nor did he know who conducted the inquiry. 8220;I read about it in the newspaper and it was a big shock to me. It was a lot of mental torture for me and my family,8221; he said. John dismissed the allegations as 8220;false and well-planned.8221;

Raman Khanna, Deputy General Manager PR, Indian Airlines, maintained that the inquiry was conducted by a senior manager but refused to divulge the name of the official. 8220;It was finalised on Monday evening that an inquiry would be conducted. It began on Tuesday and on Wednesday, the proceedings were complete,8221; Khanna said. 8220;I was home all day on Tuesday. Nobody called me,8221; said the air hostess. 8220;On Wednesday, I flew on a Hyderabad-Bangalore-Chennai flight at 6.30 am and returned this morning,8221; she added. John confirmed that he returned to the airport on Wednesday afternoon first time after Sunday.

When asked why the complainant or the accused were not questioned, Khanna remarked: 8220;This was done to keep it fair and impartial. This is the official procedure. The inquirywas conducted according to the rules laid down. We only go and examine the witnesses.8221;

8220;The woman has already said everything she wanted to say in the complaint. Then she has gone and lodged a complaint with the police,8221; Khanna justified.

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He said the witnesses were questioned and prima facie it was established that there was no physical misbehaviour.8217; He clarified that he was not part of the inquiry team.