No action taken on probe,S-I drops molestation charge against Colonel

Pusam’s retraction of the charges came on August 17,days after a local newspaper reported her April 2010 complaint regarding the alleged molestation bid to senior police officers and the chief minister.

“The reports of molestation are baseless and false. I am shocked to read these. There was some controversy in the academy but that related to a different matter,” Pusam said in a recent undertaking before ADG (Admin) Girdhari Nayak.

Incidentally,Nayak was the ADG (Training) and director of Chandrakhuri academy during the time the alleged molestation took place. James was on deputation from the Army as a trainer. Nayak is slated to be the DGP of the state in a few years.

In her April 22,2010,complaint,Pusam had said: “James threatened me and said I have complained about you to the DGP and ADG Nayak. Tum police force ke kabil nahin ho,abhi ek minute men tumhari vardi utarvakar nanga kar dunga (You are not good enough to be in the police. I can get you stripped of your uniform in a minute,leaving you naked)… SPs of all districts are my friends. You won’t be able to save yourself in any district… follow as I say and you will get all benefits… He wanted to sexually exploit me,” says the complaint.

Pusam had marked the complaint to the DGP,ADG (Training) Nayak,the State Woman Commission,the State ST Commission (Pusam is a tribal),the chief minister and the home minister narrating how Cornelius “repeatedly misbehaved” with her. Pusam added that “when James found that threats did not serve the purpose,he tarnished my character”. “He said in front of all PSIs that this girl was seen with a person at 1.30 am… my name was linked with another PSI.”

Cornelius refused to comment on the matter. In his 20-page reply to the state police,the colonel had said: “All allegations are false and baseless… fictitious and concocted… I have done/said nothing incorrect except the fact that I told her she was absent from class and told me a lie. There was no talk or action of physical exploitation. I don’t understand why she is repeating this. In fact she is defaming me and my character.”

Asked why no action was taken on the DIG report,Chhattisgarh Home Minister Nanki Ram Kanwar said: “Yes,there was an inquiry to probe her charges… I don’t know much about the case… I will have to look into it.”