RAW’s new headache is a case of sexual harassment, Centre orders an inquiry

While the principal allegation of sexual harassment has been made against a Joint Secretary who was on deputation to RAW, she has also alleged that RAW chief Ashok Chaturvedi didn’t treat her case with the seriousness it called for and downgraded her performance in her Annual Confidential Reports (ACRs).

Top Government officials confirmed to The Sunday Express that the director had personally given copies of her complaint and discussed it with National Security Advisor M K Narayanan and Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar.

During these meetings, she is said to have expressed her desire to resign but was persuaded from against doing so on the assurance that a formal inquiry would be ordered.

That inquiry is being headed by the seniormost woman officer in RAW, who is also a Joint Secretary-level officer, another woman officer of the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) and other officials from the agency. Sources said the inquiry board has held several sittings and many officers have been questioned on the allegations.

The inquiry is expected to wrap up in three months.

“After high-level consultations, it was decided to follow every step and procedure laid down by the Supreme Court on sexual harassment in the workplace. If there is a complaint of this nature by a woman it has to be inquired into, never mind if she works in a secret organization,” a top official said.