Delhi Court Bars Coercive Action Against Congress MP A Bimol Akoijam

A special judge of the Rouse Avenue Courts in Delhi issued a curious directive on Thursday – the police must not take any coercive step against Congress MP and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) professor A Bimol Akoijam in the ongoing sexual‑harassment case. In other words, if the police think they need to arrest him, they have to hand him a seven‑day notice first.

Judge Digvinay Singh, who heard the matter, said Akoijam has been “co‑operating” with investigators and that there is no reason to rush into a harsh move. The court also noted that the probe is still very much alive; the statements of the alleged victims have not even been recorded because JNU has yet to hand over their names and other details.

According to the public prosecutor, the police have already sent a formal notice to JNU asking for the complainants’ particulars. Once the university complies, the police say they will interview the victims. Until then, the court feels it would be premature to clamp down on Akoijam.

For his part, the MP’s counsel told the bench that Akoijam has been in touch with the investigators and is ready to help. The judge reminded the police that they can come back for further directions if he ever stops cooperating.

The backdrop to all this is a separate tussle with JNU. Earlier, the university dismissed Akoijam on October 9 after an internal inquiry into the same harassment allegations. However, the Delhi High Court stepped in on November 2 and stayed that termination, saying the dismissal needed more scrutiny.

Akoijam, who heads the Centre for the Study of Social Systems in JNU’s School of Social Sciences, has flatly denied the accusations, branding them as politically motivated. Meanwhile, the police have registered an FIR under Section 75 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita – the new criminal code provision dealing with sexual harassment.

So, for now, the legal pendulum swings in Akoijam’s favour on the coercive‑action front, but the investigation, the victim statements and the JNU employment saga are all very much still in the air.