New Delhi: The National Commission for Women (NCW) On Thursday took cognizance of the media reports regarding the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) Chief Swati Maliwal being molested and later dragged by a car for 10-15 meters.
Chairperson Rekha Sharma has written to the Commissioner of Police, Delhi to personally intervene in the matter and to ensure that strict action is taken against the accused person and also sought a detailed action taken report must be apprised to the Commission within 2 days.
DCW chief was allegedly molested and later dragged when her hand got stuck in his car's window at around 3:11 am opposite AIIMS gate 2. According to the police, the accused has been arrested and the car involved in the incident has been seized in the matter.
"The Commission has taken cognizance of the matter. Chairperson Ms Rekha Sharma has written to the Commissioner of Police, Delhi to personally intervene in the matter and to ensure that strict action is taken against the accused person. A detailed action taken report must be apprised to the Commission within 2 days," the NCW said in a statement.
Earlier, the Delhi Police said that it has arrested one person in connection with an incident in which DCW chief Maliwal alleged that she was "molested" and "dragged by a car" for several meters opposite AIIMS in the national capital in the early hours of this morning.
The accused has been identified as 47-year-old accused Harish Chandra. His car was also impounded by the Delhi Police. Speaking to ANI, DCP South Chandan Chowdhary stated that according to Maliwal she was with her team outside the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here at around 2.45 am when the arrested accused identified as Harish Chandra, a resident of Sangam Vihar area, appeared to be in an inebriated condition approached her.
The DCW chief in her complaint to police alleged that the man who was driving a white-coloured car stopped his car near where she was standing and "made indecent gestures" at her.
He then beckoned her to sit inside his vehicle, claimed Maliwal. When she reprimanded him, the man allegedly went away but returned a short while and again repeated his actions, police said.
She was standing with her team at Gate number 2 of the AIIMS which comes under the Kotla Police Station area. According to Maliwal's complaint, when she was standing on the footpath, a white-coloured vehicle approached her whose driver offered her a lift and started insisting that she sit inside the car.
"When she refused again and went near the driver's side window to reprimand him the man rolled up the car's glass window and her hand got stuck and she got dragged for about 10-15 metres," the DCP Chowdhary said. The police official said that a PCR call was received at around 3.12 am and a police team including ACP Hauz Khas reached the spot at around 3.20 am the accused was apprehended.
"The police took a written complaint from Maliwal and sent her and the accused for medical examination," the DCP added. A case was registered under the IPC in which Sections of molestation (354) were also included. Other sections include 323/341/509 IPC and the 185 Motor Vehicles Act.
Further investigation into the matter is underway. Maliwal's claims come days after a 20-year-old woman identified as Anjali died after allegedly being dragged in the Kanjhawala area of Delhi for several kilometres. (ANI)
