A dentist in Chennai endured a three-day-long distressing battle with the local police after she attempted to register a complaint against her neighbour for secretly filming her while she was bathing. The incident, which occurred on Saturday, saw the survivor being made to run from pillar to post by personnel at the Ayanavaram police station before an FIR was finally registered on Monday following the direct intervention of Deputy Commissioner of Police (Kilpauk) Jareena Begum.
A Shocking Discovery and Initial Confrontation
According to the woman's account, the traumatic episode began on Saturday when she entered the washroom at her residence. To her horror, she discovered her 57-year-old neighbour secretly recording her. She immediately alerted her mother and then confronted the man. Following a heated quarrel, she managed to snatch the mobile phone he had used to film her, securing what she believed was crucial evidence for her case.
Armed with the phone and a written complaint, she approached the Ayanavaram police station seeking legal action against her neighbour for sexual harassment and invasion of privacy.
Police Inaction and Coercive Tactics
Instead of receiving support, the survivor was subjected to what her family describes as coercive and irresponsible behaviour from the police. The investigating officer, Inspector Varghese Ignitious Raja, who received her complaint, held discussions with her for nearly two and a half hours.
During these talks, the inspector allegedly told her that the explicit footage could be leaked if the suspect's phone remained in an accessible condition. Shockingly, he then pressured her to submerge the mobile phone in a bucket of water in a misguided attempt to delete the data, thereby potentially destroying vital evidence.
Furthermore, the woman was pressured to pardon her neighbour and was reportedly not allowed to consult her parents during this critical time, leaving her isolated and vulnerable.
False Closure and Escalation to Higher Authorities
The situation took another bewildering turn on Monday when the survivor received a message from Inspector Raja stating that her complaint had been officially closed following a supposed 'compromise'. This message, sent without her consent or any proper mediation, left the woman and her family shocked and outraged.
Determined to seek justice, the family decided to escalate the matter. They approached Deputy Commissioner of Police Jareena Begum, who took immediate action. DCP Begum personally visited the Ayanavaram police station on Monday and conducted an inquiry into the entire incident.
Her investigation revealed serious lapses. Inspector Raja was pulled up for closing the petition without examining the accused or properly recording the survivor's official statement. Recognising the gravity of the offence, police then seized the accused neighbour's mobile phone to forensically extract data, which could be crucial in establishing the crime.
FIR Registered and Ongoing Investigation
Due to the direct intervention of the senior officer, the Ayanavaram police finally registered a formal First Information Report (FIR) against the 57-year-old neighbour. A case has been initiated, and a further investigation is currently underway to examine all aspects of the alleged voyeurism and the subsequent handling of the complaint.
This case has highlighted critical issues regarding police sensitivity and protocol when dealing with complaints of sexual harassment, especially those involving digital evidence. The swift action by DCP Jareena Begum has provided a ray of hope for the survivor after an initial ordeal that compounded her trauma.
