Relief for Youth Congress chief BV Srinivas as Supreme Court grants him interim protection from arrest

The Supreme Court today granted interim protection from arrest to Indian Youth Congress president BV Srinivas in a case lodged by an expelled woman leader of the party from Assam. The woman had filed an FIR filed against against Srinivas for allegedly causing her mental agony. The Indian Youth Congress president had moved the Supreme Court after the Gauhati High Court had rejected his anticipatory bail plea. The High Court had also refused to quash the FIR.

A bench of Supreme Court Justices B R Gavai and Sanjay Karol issued notices to the Assam government, seeking their replies in the matter by July 10. The top court also directed Srinivas to cooperate in the investigation and appear before the police on May 22.

"Taking into consideration the one-month delay in lodging FIR, the petitioner is entitled to interim protection," the Supreme Court bench said.

In her complaint, the woman alleged that Srinivas persistently harassed her mentally through sexist remarks and slang words.

On her complaint, an FIR was registered to book Srinivas under Sections 352 (assault or criminal force), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 354A (1)(iv) (sexual harassment) of the Indian Penal Code.

The woman had claimed that Srinivas had also threatened to ruin her career in the party if she complained against him, she alleged.

The alleged offence had occurred in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, which was beyond the territorial jurisdiction of the Dispur police station, where the case was filed and Assam Police had no jurisdiction to investigate or register an FIR for an offence which allegedly took place in Chhattisgarh, Srinivas said.

The Congress had issued show cause notice to the woman and later expelled her from the party's primary membership for six years for anti-party activities. (With Agency Inputs)