Shocking Coincidence

Just to put on record for the benefit of those who have willingly chosen to remain blindfolded or have been gullibly hoodwinked.

The coincidence of the admitted assault on Jayashree and Hemlata’s alleged pregnancy is nothing less than shocking. Jayashree was assaulted on 09/01/2001. Trustees declared Hemlata to be 6-7 months pregnant on 10/01/2001, within 24 hours. What prevented the trustees to issue her any show-cause notice and conduct an enquiry in January 2001 itself for violating the rule of the Ashram?

• -          Tresor Nursing Home is a personal and private nursing home of Chitra Sen on the property belonging to the Ashram.
• -          A record of every ashramite who visits the premises is maintained and submitted to Chitra Sen who submits it to Dr. Dilip Kumar Dutta, in charge of all the medical facilities in the Ashram.
• -          So even if I had been accused of destroying the so-called “evidence”, why did Dr. Dilip Kumar Dutta fail to produce the copy of the report which should have been submitted by Chitra Sen?
• -          How did Dr. Dilip Kumar Dutta, being a senior doctor, miss this advance stage of Hemlata’s alleged pregnancy when she was meeting him on a daily basis for demanding justice for Jayashree’s assault?
• -          When the trustees accused Hemlata of being 6-7 months pregnant, they did not need any medical certification required to confirm it, a profile photo would have done the trick. In her small frame of body where was she supposed to hide this advance stage of pregnancy! How come it went unnoticed even by the married women and mothers in her department at “Embroidery Department”!
• -          When a medical document is stolen or destroyed in a nursing home, its management reports it to the police. What stopped Chitra Sen to lodge a police complaint against me and why didn’t the Ashram trustees issue me a show cause notice with regard to this incident? But this most important question still remains unanswered for obvious reasons, there was no pregnancy and therefore no destruction of medical evidence.

The fact is that the trustees were scared by the threat of the supporters of Krishna Chandra who had said that they would do a mass walkout of the Ashram Dining Room if any disciplinary action was taken against Krishna Chandra. So to suppress, confuse, mislead and misrepresent the incident of the assault on Jayashree, the trustees and their henchmen started the rumor about Hemlata’s alleged pregnancy.

Krishna Belliappa, who volunteered for causing Hemlata’s alleged pregnancy and as stated by the trustees, was never expelled from the Ashram. In fact in Menon’s enquiry (third enquiry by trustees’ count) he was examined as trustees’ witness and declared that he was not responsible for the alleged pregnancy. He not only enjoys till date all the facilities and amenities provided by the Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust, he has been bestowed with power, position, money and women.

The two Krishnas were and are still being patronized by the trustees, since the trustees themselves are all aspiring to become Krishnas and being constantly entertained by the willing gopis of the Ashram. Therefore from April 2001, since we sisters revolted against this system of entertainment, the vindictive trustees have left no stone unturned to harass, victimize, falsely accuse us, defame us and overall make our lives thoroughly miserable and unlivable. What a spiritual justice!

OUR LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA

As a last recourse to get justice we have written a letter to the President of India. We hope that at least the Hon'ble President will intervene and help us. Let us wait and watch.

Madhumita Banerjee covers up trustees’ misdeeds

Madhumita Banerjee, a Punjabi woman married to a Bengali, runs an NGO called “Disha” in Pondicherry. She is a very close associate of the trustees and Matriprasad. As she is associated with various political groups in Pondicherry, trustees have always entertained her to get their work done. The trustees used her well in our case also with regard to the investigation conducted by National Women Commission.

I met her for the first time on 25.06.2006 when she visited Ambabhikshu House to canvass for her party during Pondicherry Municipal Election. 

It was a Sunday evening at about 6.45pm. She along with her friend knocked at my door asking to vote for them. Just for fun I began chitchatting with Madhumita and asked her what her party would do if it won. Her reply shocked me. She said that she has always helped ashramites and the trustees. She informed me that she was the go-between person between the trustees and the State women Commission (SCW) and the National Women Commission (NCW) in the complaint given by the five sisters.

Wow! This was a revelation to me so I goaded her further for information. I asked her what she knew about the five sisters’ case and how she had helped the trustees.

Her idea about our complaint to NCW was vague as she had only a cursory glance of the file which had been submitted by our lawyer at the Chief Secretariat, Pondicherry, to Mrs. Poornima Advani on 5/10/2004 in the morning. But promptly she had called the trustee Dr. Dilip Kumar Dutta and handed over a copy of this file to Matriprasad.

She also boasted to me that she had visited Delhi with the Chairperson of State Women Commission Mrs. Kamalini to convince the chairperson of National Women Commission Mrs. Poornima Advani that the Ashram was free from all vices. She also commented that these 5 sisters were psycho-cases.

After she had finished her story, I asked her whether I appeared to be a psycho-case. She replied “NO”. Then I showed her the original pornographic cartoons received by me. Only then she realized her faux pas and asked me who I was. When I told her that I was one of the five sisters whose name she did not even know and much less about our sexual harassment, she turned white. By then my third sister also joined me. 

Since Madhumita Bannerjee was caught red-handed, without apologizing to us she hurriedly left Ambabhikshu House with her political friend without visiting any other rooms. But on a parting note she said that men in the Ashram were bad and abusive.

After several months, Madhumita Banerjee, who had now become richer by trustees’ grace, threatened me openly with kidnap, assault and even rape. She categorically advised me to keep quiet about her dirty role. What a request!

I reported her insulting and obnoxious behavior as well as her threat to me to one of her political colleagues, who heard me out sympathetically. This colleague approached and briefed the senior politician, who in turn took Madhumita Bannerjee to task. Only then she toned down since she had been given the choice to either quit the party or continue with her behavior.

What a nightmare trustees had created for everyone!

Some Corrupt Officers of Pondicherry Police cause Blatant Miscarriage of Justice

Many Officers of the Pondicherry police have been active helpers of the Ashram trustees. To name a few – Mr. J.P. Singh (IPG), Mr. Ananda Mohan (senior officer), Mr. Firoz Zia Hussain (SP North), Mr. Meena (IGP), Mr. N.T.Sivadasan (SP North), Mrs. Thamizharasi (SP), Mr. Srikant (SSP – Law & Order), Mrs. Chhaya Sharma (SSP – C&I), Mr. Varadarajan (SHO – Muthialpet)

But there have also been some upright impartial Police Officers – Mr. Krishnaiah (IGP), Mr. Chandran (SSP – Law & Order), Mr. Baskarane (senior officer)

I am citing instances where we sisters have been denied justice by Pondicherry Police.

1. On 23.03.2001 Hemlata gave a complaint of manhandling and assault but is issued with a Report in Non-Cognizable Offence on 24.03.2001, directing her to seek civil reliefs. (See posting dated 24.03.2001)
2. The complaint dated 05.08.2004 by Arunashri is never taken up. We sent this complaint by RPAD expecting police to play foul. They lived up to our expectations. The police deny having received this complaint but we have postal registration slip and A/D card to prove our point.
3. On 17.09.2004 police dictates complaint to register FIR. Most of Arunashri’s statement is overlooked but at least FIR No.213/2004 is registered. (see posting dated 19.09.2004)
4. On 13.10.2004 police issues summons to Arunashri for production of pornographic chits in FIR 213/2004. But since on the same day they have already received three fresh chits from our rooms at Ambabhikshu House, they don’t take the five original chits which are available with us. We still have them. (See posting dated 14.10.2004)
5. In spite of our repeated visits to Muthialpet police station, where FIR 213/2004 had been registered,  we were not kept informed about the proceedings of the criminal case in S.T.R. No.7919/2004 which was filed based on FIR No.213/2004 before Judicial Magistrate II at Pondicherry. We were never called to the court to give evidence. We were given no opportunity to cross-examine the accused. We came to know about the acquittal of accused first through NHRC’s Order dated 07.11.2005 but no order of acquittal has till date been furnished to us by the Pondicherry police. The only copy which we have received is through the trustees on 04.06.2007 when they filed the said Order of Acquittal in their typeset of documents in C.R.P. No.3314/2007.
6. We were denied food on 22.07.2010 by the trustees using the illegal intimidation of Pondicherry police. Even though Mr. Chandra Mohan (Chief Secretary in 2010) regretted the mistake of the police, they did not help us to restore it by appropriate directions to the trustees.

Produced below is the Order of Acquittal in S.T.R. No.7919/2004 furnished by the trustees to us. The Pondicherry Police buried this Order to harass us and help the trustees. Till date the police has not had the courtesy to give us a copy of this report.

Thank You Dr. Girija Vyas-ji

We wish to gratefully thank the following stalwarts for helping us and giving us some relief at least. How these people in authority helped us in spite of adverse pressure is truly noteworthy. 

1. Dr. Girija Vyas, (ex-Chairperson of NCW, New Delhi and presently MP)
2. Mrs. Nirmala Sitharaman (present Cabinet Minister)
3. Mrs. Devi Matthews (ex-Director of DWCD, Pondicherry)
4. Mrs. Meena (ex- Deputy Director of DWCD, Pondicherry)
5. Mr. T.M. Balakrishnan, I.A.S. (ex-Secretary (Welfare), Pondicherry)
6. Mr. Vasanthakumar, I.A.S. (ex Sub-Divisional Magistrate cum Deputy Collector at Pondicherry)
7. Mr. Vijaykumar Bidhuri, I.A.S. (ex Sub-Divisional Magistrate cum Deputy Collector at Pondicherry)
8. Mr. Ashokan (Assisting Mr. Vasanthakumar and Mr. V. Bidhuri)

Since May 2004 all the five sisters, one after another, began facing degrading, humiliating and traumatic sexual harassment at the hands of trustees' henchmen. Our sexual harassment was masterminded by Nirmal Swain, an inmate-lawyer who got his law degree through dubious means having completed a 3 years course of law in 6 years. He was the gang-leader of the group comprising mainly of his father Bhagawan Das Swain, Krishna Chandra (who assaulted Jayashree), Girish Panda, Santosh Nayak, Shakar @ Sajjal Mitra, Chandramani Patel (who tried to molest Arunashri), Jagabandhu Rout (who I am now told was instrumental in drawing the pornographic cartoons sent to us) and the girl-friends of all these men.

Arunashri and Jayashree gave complaints to Mr. Bhaktavachalam and Mr. Udaybhaskar, (President and Secretary of Bar Association at Pondicherry and both of whom were then representing the Ashram Trustees in Hemlata's criminal case). Our complaints and requests to stop the sexual harassment, though these lawyers, fell on the deaf and sadistic trustees.

We sisters were constrained to meet personally the trustees during their Trust Board meeting on 26.07.2004 and voice our complaint. The trustees openly sided with these men and literally called us names. Their stance exposed their collusion to the sexual harassment faced by us. (See posting dated 26.07.2004)

However on 03.08.2004 when Chandramani Patel tried to molest Arunashri, we got really scared and started giving out written complaints to various authorities who could help us.

1. On 04.08.2004 complaint to Manoj Das Gupta, Managing Trustee of Ashram
2. On 05.08.2004 complaint to Pondicherry Police
3. On 06.08.2004 complaint to National Commission for Women

The then NCW Chairperson Mrs. Poornima Advani, hands over our case to the then newly appointed Chairperson Mrs. S. Kamalini of SWC. We were relieved that at last we are going to get justice only to be thoroughly disillusioned. Without conducting any enquiry, on 19.01.2005, Mrs. Advani and Mrs. Kamalini gave statements to the effect that a report had been given by SCW to NCW finding our complaints of sexual harassment to be false. But they also gave a most revealing direction through the newspapers that men and women in the Ashram should be segregated. (See postings dated 06.10.2004 and 20.01.2005).

In spite of our written request no copy of the alleged report was furnished to us by Mrs. Kamalini (SWC). By then through the devious manipulations of the trustees, an impugned report had been created by them through the most appropriately initiated and conducted enquiry proceedings. Based on this impugned report trustees were trying to expel the five sisters. We were constrained to approach NCW and NHRC (National Human Rights Commission, New Delhi) in the first week of April 2005.

Luckily for us Dr. Girija Vyas had replaced Mrs. Poornima Advani. We met Dr. Girija Vyas (M.P.) and Mrs. Nirmala Sitharaman (present cabinet minister) both of whom were genuinely concerned for our welfare. In spite of their thorough search they were unable to unearth the report as reported on 19.01.2005 by Mrs. Poornima Advani and Mrs. Kamalini. So Dr. Girija Vyas reopened our case through the Department of Women and Child Development, Pondicherry (DWCD). This enquiry is still pending with the Pondicherry Government. (See postings dated 19.03.2007, 06.08.2008)

Because of Dr. Girija Vyas, at the first instance, later with the help and concern of all the above-named persons, we have managed to sustain our dignity to a very great extent. All of us thank these upright persons once again for all the help that they have extended towards our welfare.

Justice - Blind or Blindfolded?

At last yesterday the Order passed by Justice S.J. Mukhopadhaya has been put up on the Supreme Court website. The Order goes thus

“In spite of service of notice respondents have not filed affidavit nor appeared in the Court. In the circumstances, we issue bailable warrant against alleged contemnor…”

The beginning of the Order indicates

“(With office report)”

Now if you remember the Office Order mentioned that they have received our letter wherein we have expressed our inability to appear since we have no means and that our plight ought to be considered. (For details see posting of 14.10.2014)

Now isn’t it surprising that even when this letter has been put up before Justice S.J. Mukhopadhaya and Justice S.A. Bobde (a fresh Judge), they fail to pay attention to it and mention that we have failed to appear and hence to issue bailable warrant. I can understand Justice Mukhopadhaya’s stance but what happened to Justice Bobde? Or is Justice Bobde too scared to stand up for the truth and correct the wrongdoing of his senior? 

I am speechlessly stupefied at the blatant injustice and miscarriage of justice happening at the Supreme Court. Has justice become blind or blindfolded to cater to selfish interests?

Also pertinent to point out is when we have no resources to pay for appearing before the Supreme Court, how are we supposed to pay for the bailable warrant? Can someone, any person in authority please tell me how we are supposed to achieve this feat? And what happens when we fail to pay the bail after we are arrested? Do we rot in jail or are we supposed to be die of hunger-strike which we shall take recourse to if we are detained?

It seems the arrest warrant has not yet reached the SP of Pondicherry. We have to take one step at a time and see what unfolds and how it unfolds. The Order directing for our arrest is produced below.

Miscarriage of Justice by Corrupt Supreme Court Judges

With great difficulty and with an even heavier heart, in spite of losing all hope we were constrained to prefer S.L.P. No.27620/2012 before the Supreme Court of India. Luckily Justice H.L. Gokhale and Justice Nijjar were hearing our case and they granted us stay.

Thereafter our case was temporarily listed in April 2014 and without getting listed in the final list it was adjourned to 15.07.2014. However on 26.04.2014 suddenly our case was preponed by about 1 ½ months and got listed on 29.04.2014 before a new bench comprising of Justice S.J. Mukhopadhaya and Justice Ranjan Gogoi. Both these judges were totally biased and without giving us any opportunity to present our case they passed perverse and malafide order in interim petition, especially when the trial was underway in the suit for the past four years. These two judges literally threatened our lawyers when they tried to present our case and under two minutes malafide order of eviction was granted on 29.04.2014 by these judges.

Order dated 29.04.2014 is produced hereunder.

Jayashree Traumatized in the Middle of the Night

Judicial enquiry constituted by Madras High Court is underway and we too have given our complaints regarding sexual harassment before the concerned enquiry officer. The neighbors of Jayashree, who had been constantly threatening her to withdraw her complaint, were scared of the enquiry and so they resorted to traumatizing her and making her look like a disbalanced person.

On 25.11.2013 their harassment reached its climax when at about 3.00 a.m. Michael Neville, Prashant and Chandramani Patel came to her room and banged on her door. When she opened to see who were there they threw water on her and in and around her room and balcony. She began to scream in terror listening to which Arunashri came running from her room to see what had befallen Jayashree. On seeing Arunashri these men fled and Jayashree collapsed. Arunashri called all the other sisters for help and together, following the directions given by the Ashram Doctor, Dr. Gayatri Satapathy, we took her to AUM hospital.

Jayashree was taken to ICU for trauma and had to stay in the hospital for more than a week recovering from the devastating experience. She also gave a complaint to the police, who called these men for questioning. Obviously these men denied their presence and pretended ignorance.

In fact Michael Neville, who is one of the in-charges of Ambabhikshu House wherein we are residing, acted senile and infirm before the police. He is nothing of the sort. He merrily drives around town even at night. He is so fit, hale and hearty that he even has a girl-friend who is his daughter's age in spite of having a daughter and a wife.

Trustees Maliciously Keep Denying Food to Five Sisters

Trustees send a letter at a wrongly mentioned address to Jayashree enclosing a non-certified copy of the malafide order dated 21.06.2010. We inform the trustees that the order is not verifiable and even as we are taking steps to obtain a certified copy, the trustees forcibly implement this order.

On 22.07.2010 we five sisters go for lunch. Using Pondicherry police to intimidate us, Matriprasad, Maya Khandelwal, Jahnavi Ravikanti, Purushottam Kothari and others assault Jayashree and Hemlata and deny us food at Ashram Dining Room. (See posting dated 22.07.2010).

On 23.07.2010 I meet the Warden of Jenny Working Women’s Hostel saying that our food has been stopped at Ashram Dining Room and we have been directed to reside at the hostel by the Madras High Court. Thereafter on 27.07.2010 I write a letter to the Warden asking her about our position vis-à-vis her hostel. In answer I get a letter from her dated 25.07.2010 which she has sent to the trustees stating that their representatives have misrepresented and mislead them and they are in no position to accommodate us.

In spite of receiving letter dated 25.07.2010 from the Warden of Jenny Women Hostel the trustees have failed to provide food to us till date.

Typed-copy of letter dated 25.07.2010 (Warden’s letter to trustees) is produced below.

A Glaring Example of Collusion Between Pondicherry Police and Ashram Trustees

On 21.06.2010, without our knowledge and in our absence Justice K. Venkataraman of Madras High Court passes perverse orders directing we five sisters to accommodate ourselves at Jenny Working Women’s Hostel. Thereafter the trustees send Jayashree an uncertified copy of this order at wrong address. We cannot verify its authenticity and so we take steps to get this order by ourselves from the Madras High Court.

Meanwhile we were secretly informed that trustees are going to stop our food and so on 22.07.2010 at about 12 p.m. together we five sisters go for lunch at Ashram Dining Room. There we see police constables men and women, as well as Matriprasad, Purushottam Kothari, Maya Khandelwal, Jahnavi Ravikanti, among others, waiting for us. The inmates come forward to forcibly stop us and beat Jayashree and me in the process. The police are simply watching the show. We are denied food at the Ashram Dining. We go towards the Lt. Governor’s house to seek a meeting with him. We are chased by the police and land up instead at the Chief Secretariat. By then media persons have arrived and after much ado the Chief Secretary Mr. Chandra Mohan gives us an appointment.

We apprise Mr. Chandra Mohan of how illegally and forcibly the trustees have implemented the order through assault and police intimidation. He calls the SP North one N.T. Sivadasan. Mr. Sivadasan tries to defend himself by spinning a long yarn when in fact he has received money from the trustees for helping them to stop our food. We charged him with this in front of Mr. Chandra Mohan and he did not defend himself. He is given a royal dressing down from Mr. Chandra Mohan, Chief Secretary, but the damage is done and they are both unwilling to undo the damage viz. reversing the denial of food in the Ashram Dining Room.

We have no food to eat. For how long? Anybody's guess.

Magisterial Enquiry Still Pending Before Pondicherry Govt.

To our utter consternation Mr. Vasanthkumar is transferred and our case has gone to sleep. Then on 10.12.2007 a fresh G.O. was issued appointing Mr. Vijaykumar Bidhuri, I.A.S. Sub-Divisional Magistrate cum Deputy Collector at Pondicherry, as the new enquiry officer for the magisterial enquiry being conducted.

Mr. Vijay Bidhuri pasted a notice dated 21.01.2008 on the pillar inside Ambabhikshu House, wherein we are residing, informing all the residents about the enquiry being conducted. On 22.01.2008 Mr. Vijay Bidhuri came with his team to Ambabhikshu House for inspection, investigation and spot-enquiry. They visited each of our rooms and recorded our statements. During this visit Subhashini Mohanty, who had assaulted Arunashri arrogantly came to interfere with the investigation, whereas Minoty Mohanty condescendingly questioned his authority on behalf of the trustees and claiming to be in-charge of Ambabhikshu House.

We made further representations to Mr. Vijay Bidhuri. Mr. Ashokan, being his assistant, updated him about our case since it had been carried forwarded from Mr. Vasanthakumar. Mr. Vijay Bidhuri conducted an enquiry but before it could be completed he too was transferred from Pondicherry.

This enquiry is still pending with the Pondicherry Government.

Government Order dated 10.12.2007 and Notice dated 21.08.2008 are produced below.

Fabricated N.T. Sivadasan’s Report Paraded as NHRC’s Report

The Pondicherry police were caught red-handed in their collusion with trustees so IGP Meena and Mrs. Chhaya Sharma initiated enquiry proceedings by appointing Mr. N.T. Sivadasan as an enquiry officer. The details pertaining to N.T.Sivadasan’s enquiry is as follows:

1. On 17.05.2005 women police were sent to our aged parents’ house informing them that their daughters should appear at the All Women Police Station immediately. We didn’t go.
2. On 18.05.2005 Jayashree and Arunashri went to meet Mrs. Chhaya Sharma to enquire why such an enquiry is taking place, especially after she had informed them that report was already sent and had categorically desisted to help. On her table they saw the impugned report dated 10.01.2005 of Mr. Nagarajan which she tried to hide.
3. On 18.05.2005 N.T. Sivadasan sent women police with SP Thamizharasi to Ambabhikshu House after 10.30 at night to serve notice of enquiry on us through intimidation. At 10.30 pm the door of the resident-complex closes and the watchman had to be roused for the police women to be able to meet us and forced us to receive enquiry summons.
4. On 19.05.2005 five sisters went to the All Women Police Station, protested against the unjust service of notice and the constitution of an incorrect enquiry. N.T. Sivadasan simply refused to listen to us and threatened us to comply. We contacted NHRC and they asked us to participate so that the police may not harass us further.
5. On 20.05.2005 backdated summons were issued by N.T. Sivadasan. SP Thamizharasi came again to serve this notice. We refused to accept since the date was wrongly mentioned. She rectified the date and we took notice.
6. On 24.05.2005 all five sisters went to the All Women Police Station. N.T. Sivadasan was present along with SP Thamizharasi. We submitted our written complaints and present the long history of harassment faced by us. They heard us and told us that we shall be called again for further enquiry, especially when they will examine the accused men mentioned by us. As a precaution we also sent our statements to NHRC through RPAD to keep NHRC updated about us.
7. On 29.05.2005 N.T. Sivadasan visited Abmabhikshu House for spot enquiry in our absence. He was seen with one Dilip Sharma, an Ambabhikshu resident. Dilip Sharma was taken as an inmate under dubious circumstances when Achyut Patel (Managing Trustee’s, late Harikant Patel, nephew) was caught for misappropriation of funds. Dilip Sharma is a known supporter of the trustees who approaches the Pondicherry police on their behalf for all their mischief.

This was the last that N.T.Sivadasan was ever heard or seen. We did not know the final outcome of this enquiry, until suddenly on 11.07.2008, N.T.Sivadasan’s report was filed by trustees in their M.P. No.1/2008 in CRP No.3314/2007. The manner of obtaining and filing this report is extremely interesting since it clearly exposes the collusion between trustees, the men causing us sexual harassment and Pondicherry police.

1. On 14.01.2008 (after more than three years) Chandramani Patel, who attempted to molest Arunashri, filed an application through RTI before Pondicherry Police to obtain a copy of N.T. Sivadasan’s report. Procedurally RTI application should have been made to NHRC because report is claimed to have been submitted to NHRC.
2. Pondicherry police furnishes a report to Chandramani with the most glaring errors which challenge the veracity of the report. Covering letter of SSP, Pondicherry, mentioned the date of submission of report by N.T.Sivasadan as 15.06.2005 whereas the report is dated 16.05.2005, one day before. This is not a typographical error because both the dates appear repeatedly in other places. How can a report made tomorrow be furnished today? Well all is possible in the kingdom of corruption and collusion.
3. Chandramani handed over this report to the trustees who filed it in M.P. No.1/2008 in CRP No.3314/2007 and who have been parading this report  of N.T. Sivadasan ever since as NHRC’s report. 

Pertinent questions that arise are:

1. Why no mention has been made of N.T. Sivadasan’s report in NHRC’s orders dated 07.11.2005 and 24.03.2006 if such a report had indeed been submitted before the NHRC?
2. Why did Chandramani give report to the trustees?
3. When exactly did the Pondicherry police fabricate this report for the use and misrepresentation of the trustees?

The nexus between the men who caused us sexual harassment, the Pondicherry police and the Ahram trustees is clearly exposed by this report of N.T. Sivadasan.

Produced below are the two orders of NHRC dated 07.11.2005 and 24.03.2006.

Magisterial Enquiry Ordered by Govt. of Pondicherry

After the statements were reported in ‘The Hindu’ and ‘The Indian Express’, we wrote letter to Mrs. Kamalini requesting for a copy of the report to be furnished to us. Till date no reply has come and neither has any report been furnished to us.

Meanwhile trustees had concocted a false report against all we five sisters based on which the trustees were trying to expel us. Since the starting point of the report was our sexual harassment, to safeguard our interests we were constrained to personally go to Delhi and met NCW Chairperson.

Luckily for us Dr. Girija Vyas had replaced Mrs. Poornima Advani. We met Dr. Girija Vyas, Chairperson of NCW, and Mrs. Nirmala Sitharaman, South Zone Head of NCW, both of whom were genuinely concerned for our welfare. In spite of their thorough search they were unable to unearth the report as mentioned on 19.01.2005 news-item, allegedly submitted to Mrs. Poornima Advani by Mrs. S. Kamalini.

Having seen our miserable plight Dr. Girija Vyas decided to reopen our case. We received a letter directing us to appear and submit our complaints to NCW, New Delhi. Since we were not in a position to appear in person, we sent by RPAD our representations dated 21.07.2005 to NCW in Case No.8/4047/04/NCW/JA/CP/179. Thereafter our case had been directed to be investigated by the Department of Women and Child Development, Pondicherry (DWCD).

Mrs. Devi Matthews, the Director of DWCD issued us summons. We appeared before Mrs. Devi Matthews and the Deputy Director Mrs. Meena. Our condition had worsened and they too were shocked at our victimization. Mrs. Matthews asked the trustees to reply in the course of her investigation but they gave very vague answers. The harassment reached another climax when Arunashri was brutally beaten up. (see posting dated 29.12.2006)

We met Mr. T.M. Balakrishnan, I.A.S., Hon’ble Secretary (Welfare), Pondicherry, and Mrs. Devi Matthews on 02.01.2007 at the Chief Secretariat, Pondicherry, expressing our fear, insecurity, harassment and sexual harassment faced by us. They were both very concerned and promised to do something.

Thereafter G.O. dated 23.02.2007 was issued by the Hon’ble Secretary, Mr. T.M. Balakrishnan, directing Mr. Vasanthakumar, I.A.S., Sub-Divisional Magistrate cum Deputy Collector at Pondicherry, to conduct a magisterial enquiry into our complaints. Today we gave our complaints to him on 19.03.2007. Mr. Ashokan was also present when we presented our case.

Government Order dated 23.02.2007 is produced below.

Five Sisters file Contempt Petition Against Ashram Trustees

After issuing a show cause notice dated 24.01.2005, which contained no charges leveled against us, and enclosing an incomplete report of A.V. Nagarajan, the trustees proceeded to expel us by pasting expulsion notices. We were constrained to file O.S. No.409/2005 before the Principal district Munsif at Pondicherry. (See posting on 07.02.2005)

The trustees pressured Mr. N. Krishnasamy, the Hon’ble Judge of PDM, to reject our case. But heartfelt thanks to another upright judicial officer who granted us exparte interim injunction on 28.04.2005 in I.A. No.1500/2005 in O.S. No.409/2005, restraining the trustees and their henchmen from taking any action against us based on A.V. Nagarajan’s report, and noting that the balance of convenience was in our favor. Subsequently both sides (trustees and us) were given full opportunity to present their side of the case and the injunction was made final on 10.06.2005 after a thorough enquiry.

However the trustees disobeyed the order of the Hon’ble Judge Mr. Krishnasamy. On 01.07.2005 all the five sisters were denied ‘Prosperity’ items, which is given to every inmate to meet their daily and monthly needs since the inmates do not receive any money. We filed Contempt Petition No. 3782/2005 against trustees since they disobeyed the court order. This contempt petition is still pending disposal at Pondicherry.

Birth of A.V. Nagarajan’s Impugned Report

For the sexual harassment faced by us we had already approached the Pondicherry Police and the National Commission for Women, New Delhi. Both these statutory institutions were already investigating the matter. But when on 19.09.2004 the police came to arrest Girish Panda in the afternoon, the trustees woke up to the fact that they had better cover their backs.

In the evening at about 5.00 p.m. when I went to Ambabhikshu House the Managing Trustee had pasted a back dated notice of enquiry dated 11.09.2004 informing all and sundry about the enquiry proposed to be conducted by the trustees through Mr. A.V. Nagarajan, which consisted of three phases which in fact amounted to

1. Sexual harassment as alleged by us against the named inmates
2. Some complaints against us by other named inmates
3. Anyone who had a complaint

On 19.09.2004 we wrote a letter to Manoj Das Gupta, Managing Trustee of Ashram, to stop this enquiry since Pondicherry police and NCW were already investigating the case. But he did not desist. The notice was placed on a makeshift notice board at the entrance of Ambabhikshu and in a way whereby passersby on the road could see it clearly.

Thereafter on 28.10.2004 we received summons from A.V. Nagarajan for the first phase of the enquiry - Sexual harassment as alleged by us against a few named inmates. We immediately informed him that he should not conduct an enquiry because NCW and police were looking into the matter. He also paid no heed to us and proceeded as planned. We did not participate because more competent authorized were apprised of our case.

We saw that a chained mental box appeared on a pillar beside the makeshift notice board and a notice was put up relating to the third phase of the enquiry - anyone who had a complaint. Thereafter for over a month A.V. Nagarajan collected complaints. This was an exercise to fabricate complaints against us. Inmates, residents of Ambabhiskhu House as well as non-residents, were pressurized by the trustees, Matriprasad and other henchmen, to give false complaints against us.

Subsequently A.V. Nagarajan issued us notice for the second and third phases of enquiry - some complaints against us by other named inmates & anyone who had a complaint. His notice did not contain the charges that we were supposed to refute and because we could not participate in an enquiry blindfolded, we abstained.

Today we have received a show cause notice dated 24.01.2005 from the trustees enclosing a copy of A.V. Nagarajan’s report dated 10.01.2005. This show-cause notice contains no charges framed against us. Brief perusal of the report also indicates no specific charges leveled against us. In fact the report contains and only gives synopsis of statements, hearsay and assumptions. Pending court proceedings, Nirmal Swain had appeared and participated in the enquiry. He also produced sub-judice documents which are totally irrelevant to the enquiry being conducted. As a lawyer he knows fully well his illegal act. His license to practice should be revoked.

We also found that an incomplete report had been furnished to us since we are not given the statements and documents which form part of the report. Trustees are again resorting to mischief and acting in their usual highhanded manner and suppress our complaints of sexual harassment completely in order to protect their henchmen.

Enquiry Not Conducted by SWC, Pondicherry

We are thoroughly disillusioned. Yesterday, without conducting any enquiry, Mrs. Advani and Mrs. Kamalini have given out statements to the effect that a report has been given by SCW to NCW finding our complaints of sexual harassment to be false. But they have also given a most revealing direction through the newspapers that men and women in the Ashram should be segregated!

This is what has actually happened since Mrs. Poornima Advani has ordered investigation for our complaint to SWC, Pondicherry.

Due to threats of rape and more sexual harassment, we had given a complaint dated 11.10.2004 to police asking for help and protection. Thereafter on 13.10.2004 police came to Ambabhikshu House, (See posting dated 14.10.2004) and police took evidence of our sexual harassment and three pornographic chits.

Thereafter we gave a written representation to SWC about our sexual harassment, reiterating the contents of our complaint dated 06.08.2004, after having added subsequent harassment. On 20.12.2004 we were orally called, for the first and only time, by Mrs. Kamalini at SWC Office. She alone was present when we made our representations, not one office staff was present when we had been called. None of the other members of the commission were aware that we were being enquired into. Mrs. Kamalini told us that she would treat our complaint as our deposition and would call us as and when the enquiry proceedings required our presence.

We had seen jeep-loads of women being ferried by Prafulla Patel, Purushottam Iyengar, Kannan, Nirmal Swain and others. We have subsequently come to know that they were all being taken to the Office of SWC. But we have never been called again for the enquiry proceedings till date and yesterday we saw this news item in 'The Hindu'.

We came to know through the news-item that some questionnaire had been circulated by SWC to inmates. However we were never furnished a copy of it. Therefore it would be pertinent to ponder what was the role played by these jeep-loads of women when we had made our complaint against few inmates only!

The suggestion of segregating men and women clearly indicates that there is a big problem and yet how the chairpersons, without conducting a proper enquiry, have come to the conclusion that our cases are false is anybody’s guess.

Police comes to Ambabhikshu House to collect Evidence of Sexual Harassment

In spite of the FIR registered by the police and the arrest of Girish Panda, who had been let out on bail on the surety given by a trustee as reported in the newspaper, our sexual harassment continued.

On 13.10.2014 at about 5.00 p.m. Rajyashri, Nivedita and myself received fresh pornographic cartoons and there was urine everywhere around our rooms. We called the police because they wanted to collect the evidence by themselves and they also took statement from witnesses. Matriprasad, Prabhakar Rupanagunta @ Batti, Purushottam Kothari, Prabhu Dayal Jena and others, were not only stopping the resident-inmates of Ambabhiskshu House from entering but also requesting inmates to leave the premises so that the police could not question them. Only their chosen inmates like Vishwanathan and Ushma, an unmarried couple, came forward to misdirect the police and interfere with their investigation. Anyway the police collected all the evidence, took videos, photos and statements of those present and left.

The police also had a summon for Arunashri in the case filed for the FIR No.213/2004 which was for asking her to present the pornographic chits received by her to the police. But they told her not to come since they had already collected enough evidence and fresh pornographic chits. The originals of 5 pornographic chits received by us are still available with us and 3 are with the police.

Illegal Service of Notice

I filed O.S. No.668/2002 on 14.11.2002 challenging Mr. N.P.K. Menon’s impugned undated report. And today I can say that my apprehensions have proved right.

Together with O.S. No.668/2002 I filed an interim petition in I.A. No.2937/2002 for interim injunction to restrain the trustees from taking any action based on the perverse report of Mr. Menon. Injunction has been granted and status quo has been directed as an inmate of the Ashram.

But the trustees have to act in their highhanded manner to maintain their un-slackened track record of harassment. So Matriprasad and Nirmal Swain got hold of two probationers and pasted a backdated show cause notice on my door at Ambabhiskhu House, knowing fully well that O.S. No.668/2002 has been filed and exparte interim injunction of status quo has been granted through I.A. No.2937/2002. 

This was done simply to intimidate and harass me and humiliate my family.

History in the Making - Five Accused-Trustees Appear Before JM I, Pondicherry

Such a sight as was never seen before happened on the fateful day of 05.11.2001. In the criminal case filed by Hemlata in S.T.R. No.864/2001, the accused trustees and other accused inmates were compelled to appear before the Judicial Magistrate I at Pondicherry. Here is what happened on that day.

Five accused trustees – Harikant Patel, Veda Prakash Johar, Dilip Datta, Manoj Das Gupta and Albert Patel @ Avinash – were represented by a hoard of lawyers. The three accused inmates – Krishna Belliappa, Manjunath and Satyanarayanamurthy – were represented by another set of lawyers.

On 05.11.2001 Harikant Patel and Veda Prakash Johar, for the sake of gaining court’s sympathy, were brought by five inmates each in wheelchair. One of the chair-bearers was Lalit Varma of Aurodhan Art Gallery, who equals four men in size, accompanied Veda Prakash Johar, his uncle. The trustees were accompanied by chosen henchmen viz. Matriprasad, Prushottam Iyyengar, Prafulla Patel, Saumya Bableshwar, Nirmal Chandra Swain, to name a few. So, there were about 23-25 inmates/henchmen of the trustees present on this auspicious day of hearing. Now add to this another 10-15 lawyers, clerks and well-wishers, all serving the trustees and their henchmen. So about 40-45 people were present on the accused trustees’ side.

On my side my lawyer, Mr. Cyril Vincent, Jayashree and myself were present.

The criminal case was generally called at the end to decrease humiliation caused to the trustees. This day was no exception. Before the case was called the court had been emptied to accommodate this huge group. So imagine the scene when we all appeared! Trustees and their coterie of about 40-45 people on one side, only three people - Mr. Cyril Vincent, Jayashree and myself – on the other side. Since the court hall was small it was a fascinating sight.

When the proceedings began C.S. Narasimhan opened his statement by saying this girl (indicating me) is harassing and intimidating us (pointing to the trustees). Mr. Vincent simply shrugged his shoulder and the judge burst out laughing. Mr. Narasimhan went red in the face and abstained from making such blunt allegations. But the hilarity of the situation totally escaped the trustees! 

Victimization Due to Criminal Case

Notices were issued to the accused trustees and the three accused inmates in the defamation case filed by Hemlata in S.T.R. No.864/2001 at Pondicherry. The trustees were simply furious becoming vindictive and revengeful. My sisters and even my parents were not spared. Some highlights of harassment. 

1. Arunashri taught painting classes for adults. Her classes were stopped by Ashok Acharya acting on the instructions of Shobha Mitra.
2. Arunashri’s library facility at Ashram School was stopped through Asmita Shah (maiden name) by Manoj Das Gupta, the Registrar of Ashram School and the Managing Trustee of Ashram.
3. Parents’ work which they offered voluntarily at the Ashram was stopped.
4. Parents’ food which they partook on payment basis from Ashram Dining Room was stopped.
5. Parents were repeatedly threatened by henchmen of the trustees to withdraw the criminal case if they wanted to live in peace at Pondicherry.