A Delhi court on Thursday, November 5, restrained the Delhi Police from taking coercive steps against Congress MP Angomcha Bimol Akoijam in a case involving sexual harassment allegations by 11 female students of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), directing the police to give him a seven-day advance notice in writing if his arrest becomes necessary. Special Judge Digvinay Singh of the Rouse Avenue Courts passed the order while disposing of Akoijam's anticipatory bail plea, after the Delhi Police informed the court that the MP was cooperating with the investigation and assured that he would be given seven days' notice before any arrest. This disposes of the plea on which the same court had granted him interim protection on November 3 until Thursday's hearing.

Source: IANS via HiIndia

The court noted that Akoijam has clear antecedents and has been cooperating with the investigation, and that the investigation is ongoing. According to Bar and Bench, the court observed that the victims' statements have yet to be recorded because the JNU administration has not provided their names and details, and the public prosecutor told the court that a notice had been issued to JNU to provide information and details of the complainants. The court directed that any arrest notice be personally served on Akoijam in writing at least seven days before he is taken into custody, directed him to cooperate with the investigation and to furnish the contact numbers of two family members to the investigating officer, and said the police would be at liberty to approach the court if he failed to cooperate. It also directed the Delhi Police to complete the investigation and file the chargesheet in the case.

Source: Bar and Bench

The case so far

Delhi Police have registered an FIR against Akoijam under Section 75 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which covers sexual harassment, after at least 11 female students filed complaints against him in May. Akoijam was associated with JNU's Centre for the Study of Social Systems under the School of Social Sciences. The allegations are under investigation and have not been established in court. Akoijam has denied the allegations and, according to Bar and Bench, has maintained that they are politically motivated.

Source: Live Law

In the parallel service matter, JNU dismissed Akoijam from service with immediate effect on October 9 following an inquiry by the university's Internal Complaints Committee into the allegations. On November 2, the Delhi High Court stayed the operation of that dismissal order while hearing his challenge to it: Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani issued notice to the university and listed the matter for hearing in January. Thursday's Rouse Avenue order concerns only the criminal case and does not decide the merits of the allegations.

Source: Live Law