Congress MP Bimol Akoijam gets protection from arrest in JNU sex harassment case

A Delhi court on Thursday directed the Delhi Police not to take any coercive action against Congress Member of Parliament (MP) and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) professor A Bimol Akoijam in connection with a sexual harassment case registered against him.Special Judge Digvinay Singh of the Rouse Avenue Courts directed that the police must give Akoijam seven days' notice if his arrest is required in connection with the case. The order provides interim protection to the Congress MP while the investigation continues.Several students have levelled sexual harassment allegations against Akoijam, following which the Delhi Police registered a first information report (FIR) under Section 75 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with sexual harassment.COURT NOTES AKOIJAM'S COOPERATION IN INVESTIGATIONWhile granting protection, the court noted that Akoijam has clear antecedents and has been cooperating with the investigation. The judge also observed that the probe was still underway and that statements of the complainants were yet to be recorded. According to the court, the delay in recording the statements was because the JNU administration had not provided the police with the names and other details of the complainants.Akoijam's counsel told the court on Thursday that the Congress MP had joined the investigation and was cooperating with the investigating agency. The public prosecutor, meanwhile, informed the court that the police had issued a notice to JNU seeking information and details of the complainants. The police intend to contact the students after receiving the required information from the university.The court also clarified that the Delhi Police would be at liberty to approach it for appropriate directions if Akoijam failed to cooperate with the investigation.JNU HAD TERMINATED AKOIJAM'S SERVICES IN OCTOBERThe development comes amid an ongoing legal battle between Akoijam and JNU over the sexual harassment allegations.The university had dismissed Akoijam from service with immediate effect on October 9, following an inquiry into the complaints against him.However, on November 2, the Delhi High Court stayed the termination order after Akoijam challenged the university's decision.Akoijam has denied the allegations against him and maintained that they are politically motivated.The Congress MP was associated with JNU's Centre for the Study of Social Systems under the university's School of Social Sciences.The criminal investigation into the complaints remains ongoing, with the police yet to record the statements of the complainants. The latest court order restricts coercive action against Akoijam without the stipulated seven days' notice, while allowing the investigation to proceed.- Ends