A rape survivor has come forward alleging sexual abuse by a magistrate inside his chamber at a court in Tripura. A three-member panel, led by Dhalai District and Sessions Judge Gautam Sarkar, has launched an investigation into the matter, as confirmed by a senior advocate on Sunday.
According to the survivor, the incident occurred on February 16 when she visited the chamber of first-class judicial magistrate in Kamalpur to provide her statement regarding her rape case. In her complaint to the additional district and session judge in Kamalpur, she stated that while attempting to give her statement, the judge groped her. She immediately left the chamber and informed her lawyers and husband about the incident.
Following the survivor’s complaint, District and Sessions Judge Gautam Sarkar, accompanied by Chief Judicial Magistrate Satyajit Das, visited Kamalpur’s additional district and session the judge’s office to conduct an inquiry.
Shibendra Dasgupta, secretary of the Kamalpur Bar Association, confirmed that the panel met with members of the bar association to discuss the allegations and gather their perspectives on the matter.
In response to the allegations, Registrar General of the Tripura High Court, V Pandey, stated that they have yet to receive an official complaint regarding the issue. He mentioned that they became aware of the situation through media and social media platforms and assured that appropriate action would be taken upon receipt of a formal complaint.
The allegations have sparked concern and scrutiny, prompting authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.
