Chautala demands independent probe in police academy sex scandal

Om Parkash ChautalaChandigarh, Dec 15 : Former Haryana chief minister Om Parkash Chautala Tuesday met Governor Jagannath Pahadia and demanded an independent probe into an alleged sex scandal at the Haryana Police Academy (HPA) in Karnal district.

"We have full belief that our governor will deal with this issue very seriously and appropriately. We have submitted copies of written complaints which we had received from women police officers and apprised him about the whole issue," Chautala told reporters here.

"We have submitted all the evidences with the governor and now it is his responsibility to order investigation by an independent agency," he said.

Many senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officers are reportedly involved in sexually harassing junior women officers who come for training to the HPA in Madhuban town, around 150 km from Chandigarh.

"We have informed him about the malpractices going on in HPA and how women officers were being sexually exploited by senior police officers," Chautala said.

"Even our governor, who himself follows Ghandhian principles and respects women, was surprised after learning the truth about state police. He has assured us of a fair probe," said Chautala, who also heads main opposition Indian National Lok Dal (INLD).

A series of news reports on the issue were published last week in a vernacular daily newspaper in Karnal. In retaliation, Haryana police Monday booked the editor, printer and several reporters of this newspaper.(IANS)