Molestation case: CM announces probe by Women's Commission

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today announced that probe into the allegation of sexual harassment made by a woman party worker against the former Mumbai Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha president Ganesh Pandey was being handed over to the State Women's Commission.
The objective was to ensure a fair probe, Fadnavis said in the Legislative Council. "Taking note of the demand of the women legislators and the directive of Council Chairman Ramraje Nimbalkar, I am making this statement," he said.
Earlier today, Nimbalkar directed Fadnavis to make a statement on the issue on Friday, during a debate when Dipti Chaudhari (Congress) tried to move an adjournment motion on the issue.

The Chairman said though he cannot direct the Government to register a case, he had directed the Government to ask senior IPS officer Rashmi Shukla to record the victim's statement in camera.
Later, not satisfied with Chairman's ruling, women MLAs of Congress and NCP shouted slogans demanding Pandey's arrest. The Chairman had to adjourn the proceedings thrice.
An angry Chaudhari remarked that BJP sacked Pandey, but no police case was registered against him though he had used a most vulgar language against a woman colleague. Why no FIR had been registered, she asked.

Senior Shiv Sena member Dr Neelam Gorhe said the police on their own should record the victim's statement in camera.

The Leader of Opposition Dhananjay Munde alleged that when the members of NCP's womens wing went to Bandra police station in the city to submit a memorandum, they were insulted and turned back.
The victim, a member of BJP's youth wing, has alleged that Pandey, who accompanied her during BJYM's executive committee meeting in Mathura, called her to his hotel room on March 4 and asked her obscene questions, passed lewd remarks in front of other male members and held her hand when she tried to leave.
Pandey denied the allegation, terming it a "political conspiracy".