Kochi: Senior IPS officer V G Vinod Kumar has approached the Kerala High Court seeking to quash the final inquiry report issued under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (Posh Act). The report stems from complaints made by two women sub-inspectors against him. Kumar also seeks to set aside all consequential proceedings arising from the report.
Court Hearing and Proceedings
During the hearing on Tuesday, the bench of Justice Harishankar V Menon granted the complainants two weeks to file their counter-affidavits in response to the petition, following a request from their counsel. A request for in-camera proceedings was also made; however, the High Court stated that this matter would be considered on the next posting date.
Background of the Complaints
The proceedings relate to complaints lodged by two women sub-inspectors who served under Vinod Kumar during his tenure as Superintendent of Police (SP) in Pathanamthitta. The inquiry was initiated in August 2025 after the officers accused Kumar of sending inappropriate messages and making late-night phone calls. Following the investigation, the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) submitted its final report.
Petitioner's Contentions
Challenging the report, Vinod Kumar has argued that the ICC lacked jurisdiction to entertain the complaints. He contends that even if the allegations are accepted in their entirety, they do not constitute sexual harassment within the meaning of Section 2(n) of the Posh Act. According to the petition, apart from certain screenshots of call logs and hello messages, no material was produced to establish conduct falling within the statutory definition of sexual harassment. It is further contended that there were no allegations of sexually coloured remarks, unwelcome advances, or any communication carrying a sexual connotation.
Procedural Irregularities Alleged
The petition further states that the ICC ought to have decided the issue of maintainability at the threshold. Instead, it allegedly permitted the complainants to file multiple additional statements, thereby allowing what the petitioner describes as an embellished and improved version of the allegations to be introduced in an attempt to bring the complaints within the ambit of the Posh Act. Vinod Kumar further alleges that the entire inquiry process was vitiated by illegality, procedural impropriety, bias, mala fides, denial of natural justice, and breach of confidentiality.
Stay updated with the latest Kochi news. Download the TOI App.
