A police team issued a notice to Srinivas at his residence, with the order stating that failing to comply with it could lead to his arrest.
Published Apr 23, 2023 | 5:04 PM ⚊ Updated Apr 23, 2023 | 5:07 PM
Srinivas BV with Angkita Dutta. (Twitter)
The Assam Police on Sunday, 23 April, asked Indian Youth Congress (IYC) president Srinivas BV to appear before it by 2 May for questioning in connection with allegations of harassment and gender discrimination against him by now-expelled party leader Angkita Dutta.
A police team from Assam issued a notice to Srinivas at his Bengaluru residence, with the order stating that failure to comply with it could lead to his arrest.
“A five-member team of the Guwahati Police is in Bengaluru. The notice was pasted on the door of his residence as he was not present,” Joint Commissioner Prateek Thube told PTI over the phone.
“He has been given time till 2 May to appear at Dispur police station,” Thube, who is a part of the Guwahati police team in Bengaluru, said.
The notice said that during the investigation, “reasonable grounds” have been revealed to question Srinivas in the case and, hence, he has been asked to appear before the investigating officer, at 11 am on 2 May.
A set of 10 directions was given to Srinivas for compliance during the period, including not tampering with evidence, not allowing the destruction of any evidence relevant to the investigation and cooperating with the probe.
“Failure to attend/comply with the terms of this notice can render you liable for arrest under Section 41 A(3) and (4) of CrPC,” it added.
Dutta, who was the Assam Youth Congress chief, had filed a case at the Dispur police station, claiming that Srinivas has been “harassing and torturing her for the last six months by making sexist comments, using slang words and also threatening her with dire consequences if she keeps complaining against him to the senior party office bearers”.
She had earlier made similar allegations against him in a series of tweets.
Dutta alleged that IYC chief Srinivas BV was causing her mental harassment and humiliation as she was a woman.
She added that he recently roped in Assam IYC secretary Vardhan Yadhav and both of them had been jointly campaigning and lobbying against her to get her thrown out of the IYC.
She also alleged that she had brought this matter to the notice of the IYC general secretary and also Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi.
But no inquiry or action was initiated against both Srinivas or Vardhan Yadav despite her complaints, she said.
Dutta also alleged that she met Srinivas at the Mayfair Hotel during the Congress’ Raipur plenary session in Chhattisgarh in February. She was entering the hotel to meet party seniors while Srinivas was coming out.
As they exchanged pleasantries and crossed each other, Srinivas allegedly asked her if she was drunk, and what alcohol she had consumed — vodka or tequila. Srinivas also is said to have asked Dutta if she texted after drinking.
Dutta alleged that Srinivas used to undermine her because of her gender.
@IYC President @srinivasiyc has continually harnessed me and was discriminating on the basis of my gender. My values and education doesn’t allow me anymore. The leadership has played deaf ears despite bring front of them MANY TIMES @RahulGandhi @kcvenugopalmp @priyankagandhi
— Dr Angkita Dutta (@angkitadutta) April 18, 2023
She said she was sidelined on several instances, or kept uninformed about important developments.
They also did not involve her in decision-making, despite her being the president of the State IYC unit, Dutta alleged.
She also said Srinivas engaged Vardhan Yadav and made posters of hers along with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma — a BJP leader — and initiated a campaign on social media lobbying against her.
They claimed she was all set to join the BJP to avoid being investigated by the ED and the CBI in the Saradha Chit Fund case, she said.
Dutta added that she even forwarded the posters to Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, but no action was initiated against Srinivas or Vardhan Yadav.
(With PTI inputs)
