Woman Constable Accuses SHO of Misconduct in Basti, Probe Ordered

A woman constable posted at Sadar police station in Basti has accused the station house officer (SHO) of making obscene remarks, denying leave, and threatening to assault her.

Constable Maneka Chauhan, a 2019-batch officer from Barhalganj in Gorakhpur, alleged that she had sought a day’s earned leave to visit her ailing mother, who is admitted to Durgavati Hospital. “When I requested leave, he misbehaved with me, abused me and even tried to beat me,” she said, breaking down while speaking to senior officers.

She further alleged that the SHO, Inspector Dinesh Chandra Chaudhary, made inappropriate comments, asked her to call him “brother-in-law,” and insisted she contact him on his personal number. “I refused. He got angry and started harassing me. He marked me absent when I went to duty,” she claimed.

Chauhan, accompanied by her five-year-old daughter, approached Sanjeev Tyagi to lodge a complaint. She also alleged she was stopped from meeting the Superintendent of Police and that the SHO sent a subordinate to monitor her movements.

The constable claimed that several other women personnel had faced similar behaviour but remained silent out of fear of suspension or transfer. She alleged the harassment had pushed her towards suicidal thoughts, but her husband—also a constable posted at Old Basti police station—intervened.

Inspector Chaudhary has denied the allegations, terming them baseless. He said the constable had sought 40–45 days’ leave, which could not be granted due to ongoing examinations, Holi deployment and shortage of force. “We offered 20 days’ leave, but she insisted on 45 days. After that, she made these allegations,” he said.

Additional Superintendent of Police Shyamkant confirmed that a two-member inquiry committee, comprising himself and CO Harraiya Swarnim Singh, has been constituted on the directions of the SP. The committee will submit its report after investigation, and appropriate action will follow.

The matter remains under inquiry.