Days after The Indian Express reported that a tribal Sub-Inspector (SI) of Chhattisgarh had withdrawn her charges of attempted molestation against a Colonel,fresh evidence has emerged that she did so under the pressure of ADG (Admin) Giridhari Nayak and stands by her earlier complaint. A month after giving an undertaking before Nayak on August 17 about withdrawing charges,SI Kamla Pusam submitted in writing before an inquiry panel that Nayak sir made me sign on a pre-written paper and asked me not to tell anyone. The state police,interestingly,is now getting her examined by a psychologist to explain the flip-flop or whether she has a history of making such allegations and take advantage of the fact that she is a woman. Pusam,then a probationary SI,had accused Colonel James Cornelius in an April 2010 complaint of repeated misbehaviour and that he wanted to sexually exploit me during her training at Kanker Counter-Terrorism and Jungle Warfare College and Police Academy,Chandrakhuri. Nayak was the ADG (training) and academy director and James was on Army deputation as a trainer. While an earlier probe by DIG (jails) Bharat Singh had held Colonel Cornelius guilty,noting that it is proved that he behaved in an unjustified manner,with an intention to exploit her mentally and physically,soon after her August 17 undertaking,a new inquiry team was set up under ASP (traffic) Shweta Sinha an officer far below in rank than the previous inquiry officer. In a submission before Sinha on September 22,Pusam squarely blamed Nayak for forcing her to withdraw charges. On August 17,Nayak sir called me through SP Bilaspur and made me sit in his office from 3 to 4.40 pm,kept convincing me. dont get involved in the tussle of top officials of PHQ. if DGP sir calls then tell him that it was not the case as appeared in newspapers, Pusam said in her statement. Maintaining the matter is under investigation,DGP Anil M Nawaney said,I can comment only when the final report comes. Asked when no action was taken on DIG Singhs report,why a new probe,he said: The earlier panel did not have any woman member,mandatory as per the recommendations of the Supreme Court. The new team has a practising psychologist to explain the flip-flop. On November 14,Pusam wrote to the DGP,saying I am repeatedly being called and asked the same questions. what is my fault? I have assured her,and also asked officials to expedite the inquiry, said Nawaney.
