-
30 Nov 2018
Bengaluru: 'Connection' between law intern's sexual-harassment, death to be probed
-
A probing team has sent two mobile phones and laptop of a law intern, who died on Saturday, for forensic examination to found link, if any, between the sexual harassment charges she leveled and her death.
The victim, 26-year-old Pushp Archana Lall, claimed seniors at a Bengaluru law firm harassed her.
Three days after she filed the complaint, she was found dead.
-
The case
Backstory: Victim claimed she was harassed multiple times
![Backstory: Victim claimed she was harassed multiple times]( "Backstory: Victim claimed she was harassed multiple times")
-
Lall had alleged that advocate T Chandra Naik and High Court prosecutor Chethan Desai harassed her.
She had been working at the firm since 2017, and Naik introduced her to Desai. She said that over a period of time, the duo assaulted her after getting her drunk.
They harassed her at pubs, restaurants, hotels and forced her to watch pornographic videos.
-
Probe
Case being investigated as unnatural death
![Case being investigated as unnatural death]( "Case being investigated as unnatural death")
-
Lall has shifted to a paying guest accommodation, in Malleswaram area, merely a week before her death.
Sources in the police said she was under pressure and was asked to withdraw the complaint.
A senior officer said, "The case is being investigated as unnatural death under Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Code. It can be converted into abetment of suicide."
-
Complaint
She was 'advised' not to file a police complaint
![She was 'advised' not to file a police complaint]( "She was 'advised' not to file a police complaint")
-
The investigators hope Lall's electronic devices would have some evidence that can be used in the case. For this, Lall's WhatsApp conversations and other social media accounts will be examined.
A purported conversation between Lall and another advocate Kirti did the rounds of social media.
Before she filed a complaint, Kirti allegedly 'advised' Lall against it and spoke about her 'facing consequences'.
