Allegations of sexual misconduct done by Lal Chand Kataruchak: NCSC asks Punjab government to submit ATR

Allegations of sexual misconduct done by Lal Chand Kataruchak: NCSC asks Punjab government to submit ATR

CHANDIGARH: Taking strong notice over the complaint wherein the victim is alleging sexual misconduct done by Punjab cabinet minister Lal Chand Kataruchak, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC), on the orders of its Chairman Vijay Sampla, issued a notice to Punjab government officials and asked them to submit an action taken report, immediately.

In a video message and a written letter to NCSC, the victim Keshav Kumar demanded justice as well as security, citing that the minister is now giving threats to his life.

“I am now on the run and submitting the complaint in Delhi as the minister threatening to harm me or my family. I request NCSC to take action against the minister over the sexual misconduct and provide me security”, he said.

Kumar, who belongs to SC community and is a resident of a village in Pathankot, narrated the incident and said, “Kataruchak had approached me by sending a friend request on Facebook in 2013-14 and when he accepted it, Kataruchak allegedly started making advances. Since he was an influential person, he had promised me a government job due to which I remained mum. I was too young at that time to understand anything. But, his sexual excesses continued till 2021. However, he met me for the last time on Diwali in 2021 and he neither provided me with a job nor he met me after that.”

Recently, the video of the misconduct was handed over to Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit by Congress leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira.

Meanwhile, the Commission asked the chief secretary of Punjab and the director general of police (Punjab) to investigate the matter and to submit the action taken report, immediately, through post or email, based on the facts and information on the action taken on the allegation/matter.

The commission also asked the officials to provide security to the victim.

Sampla cautioned the officers that if action taken report is not received within the stipulated time, then Commission might exercise the powers of the civil court conferred on it under article 338 of the Constitution of India and issue a summon for personal appearance before the commission in Delhi.