The case of sexual harassment which involves the senior journalist, Rupesh Samant who apparently beleaguered three junior women journalist working under him, in one of the very well-known cable network channels in Goa. According to the available information senior journalist Rupesh Samant, who was working for cable network channel in the capital city of Panaji has been booked by the police under the section 354A (related to sexual harassment) and section 67 A of Information Technology Act relating to publishing and broadcasting the vulgar matter containing sexually explicit act in electronic form.
The anticipatory bail applied by Rupesh Samant, fearing the arrest has been heard today at the Mapusa Court in front of JMFC Vijaya Poll who adjourned the matter for the next Monday without the grant of any interim relief to Rupesh and leaving enough space for the police to arrest him. Previously the matter was kept at the Panaji court but at the last moment it was shifted to Mapusa court it is having the lady, judge. The matter is fixed for 6th October for the hearing of anticipatory bail while the court will hear the plea of accused on 3rd October as police have not handed over the copy of FIR to him. The police have opposed the anticipatory bail citing the fear of Accused tampering with the witnesses and that accused did not cooperate with the police by evading the summons on several occasions. Police also claimed that the accused is a habitual offender.
According to the news published by IANS news agency, two women journalists have filed the FIR against Rupesh Samant at the Woman’s Police Station in Panaji, under the section 345A for the sexual harassment. Based on the FIR, the senior journalist Rupesh Samant, who also happens to be the Goa bureau chief of Press Trust of India (PTI) was accused of allegedly pestering the victims, sending them sexually explicit messages via mobile phone and making sexual advances. This was done at one of the well known Cable Network channel where the two journalists earlier worked.
According to the Goa Union of Journalist (GUJ), the police should take this case to its logical conclusion by investigating into this alleged sexual harassment case without the fear of any interference. The state’s journalist league has appealed the other woman victims to come forward, especially those who have faced the similar circumstances at the workplace in media houses. The GUJ delegation has also met the Director General of police T N Mohan and asked him to take this case on the priority basis and punish the accused as soon as possible. The Chief Minister of Goa Laxmikant Parsekar said that government is taking the cognizance of this matter and that the law would take its own course.
Source: Various Sources
Edited by Goa Prism News Desk
