Retired Supreme Court Judge Asok Kumar Ganguly has denied allegations of sexually assaulting his intern in December last year.
As soon as the woman law intern informed the three-judge panel, set up by the SC for an internal inquiry into the sexual harassment case that has shaken the legal fraternity of the country, and former Justice Ganguly's name was made public, he expressed 'shock' over the news.
"I am denying everything. I have told the committee that all the allegations levelled by the intern are wrong. I don't know how such allegations have been levelled against me," he told PTI.
"I have worked with several interns in my life. I treat them like my children ... nobody has ever made such an allegation. I am shocked and shattered," he said during an interview with NDTV news channel.
The 66-year-old former justice, who retired in February last year, heads the West Bengal Human Rights Commission (WBHRC) as its chairman and has resolved numerous cases of crime against women. Former Justice Ganguly was part of the bench that quashed 122 2G spectrum licences issued by former telecom minister A Raja in 2008.
As per PTI reports, an MP of the ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal has demanded resignation of the former SC judge from his post of chairman at WBHRC.
"This is the first time such an allegation has been made against a former Supreme Court judge who is at present holding the post of WBHRC chairman. He should resign immediately," said Kalyan Bandopadhyay, who is also a senior lawyer.
"Whether the allegations are right or wrong will be decided by the committee appointed by the Chief Justice of India but till then he must not hold such a position," he added.
Social activist and former IPS officer Kiran Bedi compared the sexual harassment case leveled against the former justice with sexual assault case against Tehelka founder Tarun Tejpal.
"#Justice Ganguly and #Tejpal case is at par!Justice Ganguly ought to have resigned from current post of WB Hrts!He must get same treatment!" she posted on Twitter.
