Sexual harassment: Troubles grow for ex-SC judge Asok Kumar Ganguly

An FIR was filed on Wednesday against retired Justice Asok Kumar Ganguly, accused of sexually harassing a law intern.

Kolkata: Troubles grew for the beleaguered former Supreme Court judge Justice Asok Ganguly with an NGO on Wednesday moving the police seeking action against him in the alleged sexual harassment of a law intern even as he denied reports of fresh allegations that have appeared in the media.

Trinamool Congress, which has been gunning for Justice Ganguly, stepped up its attack and demanded his resignation as West Bengal Human Rights Commission Chairmam as fresh reports appeared in the media over his alleged misbehaviour with the intern, a charge the judge has again denied today. Supreme Court sources in Delhi said that the three-judge committee`s report was under consideration but refused to say anything about the details of the report. A local NGO--Bharat Bachao Sangstan--today submitted a memorandum to the Hare Street police station demanding legal action and filing of an FIR against Ganguly, who has been accused of misbehaving and making sexual advances to a law intern in a five-star hotel in December last year. "Necessary police action as per law, when such a serious complaint has been raised, should be taken immediately," Vineet Ruia President of NGO Bharat Bachao Sangsthan, which had recently staged a protest outside the office of the WBHRC, told reporters here. "He, being a man of position, can influence witnesses and the process of investigation. So we think that he should immediately step down from his post of chairman of WBHRC," Ruia said. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) DP Singh said, "We have received a letter from them (NGO)." Justice Ganguly had denied any wrong doing and said that he was shocked and shattered by the allegation made against him by the law intern. In his defence, Justice Ganguly said, "I was a victim of circumstances. I am shattered and shocked. I deny all the charges." Ganguly further said that the intern was like a child to him. "She came to my house on a number of occasions. The intern is like a child to me. The intern has worked with me, but she has never raised the issue with me." He had said, "When I was in Delhi, she was in Delhi. I did not force her to come to me, she had dinner with me and she had the liberty to leave. She should have left if she felt uncomfortable. I am a victim of circumstances." Former Attorney General of India Soli Sorabjee has defended the retired apex court judge by saying his resignation would set a bad precedent.