New Delhi: The Indian Youth Congress (IYC) president, Srinivas BV, on Monday appeared before the Guwahati Police in connection with the harassment and gender discrimination case filed against him by Angkita Dutta, former President of Assam Youth Congress.


Security was stepped up at the Guwahati airport to prevent any untoward incident during his arrival.


The IYC president landed at the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati at around 9.30 am. Upon his arrival, he was welcomed and greeted by the Congress workers and supporters at the airport.


He then headed directly to the Panbazar Police Station in Guwahati, to appear before the Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP), Moitrayee Deka.


The IYC chief was grilled by the police officer for about one hour and fifteen minutes at the Panbazar Police Station.


After that, Srinivas BV left for the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Assam Police headquarters at Ulubari in Guwahati. Here too, he was questioned for about an hour.


The IYC chief was accompanied by Congress MLA from Assam’s Chaygaon constituency Rekibuddin Ahmed and his lawyers to the CID headquarters.


On being asked by one of the media persons about the allegation leveled against him by Angkita Dutta, Srinivas BV said, “I have already told you that the case is pending in the court and we have faith in the judiciary.”


As a precautionary measure, the Police Commissionerate, Guwahati, on Saturday, had already issued prohibitory orders, under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).


The prohibitory order was issued by the Police Commissionerate, Guwahati to prevent overcrowding by the Congress party workers and supporters to welcome their youth leader and the possibility of protests by the supporters of Angkita Dutta.


Speaking to the media persons, Leader of Opposition in the Assam Assembly Debabrata Saikia said, “Srinivas ji asked for anticipatory bail in Gauhati High Court and it was denied so he moved the Supreme Court of India and the apex court granted him anticipatory bail and asked him to appear before the investigating authorities in Assam and that is why he has come today and being a national president the state followers of the Indian youth Congress also wanted to come to Guwahati."


He further stated, "However, yesterday all of a sudden for unlimited period of time Section 144 have been imposed and this is very unfortunate because if I remember well our former Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud ji and UU Lalit ji also commented that Section 144 should not be imposed abruptly without any rhyme and reason and it is not good for healthy democracy and in such a thing when the Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma always says the situation in Assam is peaceful and there is no strike, satyagraha or dharna then why assembly of above four person is being denied is a question.”


“Another thing I don’t know why so many restrictions have been done on registered National political parties by the ruling party of the state that is BJP against Congress workers and I am very upset that the Congress leaders and workers of several districts of the state had been called to the police station and were asked not to go to Guwahati and even taken personal bonds that they will not go to Guwahati. Some of the Congress leaders were also detained so that they could not come to Guwahati," Saikia added.


He further stated, “The Assam police had also taken personal bonds from our Congress leaders under Section 152 of the CrPC that they will not join any demonstration or anything.”


When asked about the case, Saikia said, “Regarding the case, we have full faith in the democracy and the judicial system in India and we know justice will prevail. The Assam Police behaved very well with Srinivas ji."


Srinivas BV is likely to visit the revered Kamakhya temple in the evening and will take the last flight to Delhi.


Earlier on Wednesday, the Supreme Court had granted anticipatory bail to Srinivas BV.


A bench of Justice B R Gavai and Justice Sanjay Karol granted him anticipatory bail and asked him to cooperate with the investigation and appear before the police on May 22.


Issuing notice to the Assam government and others, the bench had posted the matter for hearing on July 10.


Angkita Dutta, who was expelled from the primary membership of Congress for six years, over alleged anti-party activities, following her accusations against the IYC chief, had lodged a First Information Report (FIR) against him at the Dispur police station on April 19.


Later, both the Assam Police and the CID of Assam Police summoned the IYC chief. 


In her FIR, Angkita Dutta alleged that the IYC chief made sexist comments and threatened her with dire consequences if she complained against him.


Dutta in a series of tweets had referred to Srinivas BV as “sexist” and “chauvinistic". “I am a woman leader. If I undergo such harassment, how am I supposed to encourage other women to join," read one of her tweets.


Dutta had also accused senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of not initiating action against Srinivas BV despite being apprised of the matter several months ago. The Congress has dismissed the charges, saying they were politically motivated.