2-Finger Test on Assault Victim Despite SC Ban

BENGALURU: The 25-year-old victim of sexual harassment in the Raghaveshwara Bharati case suffered an infection after doctors at KIMS allegedly subjected her to a two-finger test in violation of Supreme Court directives.

“The medical authorities at Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences, Bengaluru, conducted the test despite instructions from police not to do so,” chairman of the expert committee on prevention of crimes against women and children, V S Ugrappa, told reporters on Saturday. The victim was referred to the hospital by the Girinagar police after receiving a complaint against the Ramachandrapur Mutt pontiff, Raghaveshwara Bharati Swami, recently.

Terming the KIMS’ authorities act as inhuman and a violation of one’s right to privacy, he said, “The committee, which had discussed the incident in detail on Saturday, has decided to seek a report from the health department.”

Raghaveshwara Bharati Swami had obtained anticipatory bail after the woman had lodged a complaint accusing the pontiff of sexual harassment. The victim had also approached the committee with a plaint that the police had not taken the case seriously.

Ugrappa said the SC  in its direction had clearly stated that medical procedures should not be carried out in a manner that constitutes cruelty and is inhuman and that health should be of paramount consideration while dealing with such victims.

He said, while handling cases of crimes against women and children, the committee had encountered some ambiguity over summoning both the victims and the accused.