In a significant development, the Chhattisgarh Police have established a two-member committee to thoroughly investigate the sexual harassment charges brought against a senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer by the wife of a sub-inspector. The committee is tasked with looking into the allegations made by the woman against IPS officer Ratanlal Dangi, who is currently serving as the director of the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose State Police Academy in Raipur. The woman had lodged a formal complaint on October 15 with the Director General of Police, Arundev Gautam, accusing the 2003-batch IPS officer of exploitation and prolonged physical, mental, and financial harassment.
The complainant alleges that her association with Dangi began when he was the Superintendent of Police in Korba district. She claims that Dangi maintained contact, subjected her to emotional and mental distress, and threatened to interfere with her husband’s career transfers when she rebuffed his advances. She has also reportedly provided digital evidence to support her claims.
Conversely, IPS officer Ratanlal Dangi has refuted these allegations, labeling them as entirely false. He asserts that the woman has been harassing him for years, even going as far as to threaten self-harm if he didn’t maintain contact. Dangi has reportedly informed his superiors about her alleged behavior in the past. He further claims that the woman has intruded into his residence without permission and shared objectionable photos with his staff to damage his reputation, causing him significant mental distress over the last two years.
The inquiry committee, headed by Inspector General Anand Chhabra and including Deputy Inspector General Milna Kurre, will conduct its investigation with impartiality and sensitivity. The committee is expected to record statements from both the complainant and the accused IPS officer, after which appropriate action will be determined based on the findings of the inquiry.