Why were they quiet? Kiran Bedi says victims of self-styled godman Saraswati are equally accountable
New Delhi: Former Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Kiran Bedi has sparked controversy with her recent comments on the sexual harassment allegations against self-styled godman Chaitanyanand Saraswati. In an interview with India Today, Bedi suggested that the women who accused Saraswati were "equally accountable" for their silence about the alleged abuse.
“I can’t imagine they were so foolish and ignorant. I am sure they knew they could do it (use social media to share their ordeal), but why did they keep quiet? They are also equally accountable,” Bedi asserted.
When pressed on the responsibility of Sri Sharada Institute of Indian Management-Research, where Saraswati served as the former director, Bedi suggested that the blame extended beyond the institution itself. “I would not exclude the girls because they may have been gaining financially or otherwise. It’s greed, nothing else. You have to be a gainer to be silent for a crime,” she remarked, drawing further criticism for victim-blaming.
When asked about the often hostile environment in which sexual harassment victims operate, including threats and intimidation, she downplayed these concerns, suggesting that collective action and social media could have exposed the alleged abuser. "It’s not difficult to report when their number is large. You can even name and shame them anonymously on social media. In fact, one of the biggest advances of social media is to protect yourself and expose the man," Bedi said.
Her comments were met with widespread criticism on social media. Many users pointed out the insensitivity of her remarks, highlighting that the onus should not be on women to take collective action, but on the government and institutions to ensure justice. "The onus is not on women to come together. The onus is on the government to serve justice to every single victim," wrote one Instagram user. Another commented, "It's not as easy as Bedi is suggesting. Not all girls can come out publicly on social media."
The sexual harassment allegations against Saraswati have sparked outrage. According to the FIR filed in the case, Saraswati allegedly forced female students to visit his quarters late at night, sent them inappropriate messages, and monitored their movements through his phone.
In a recent update on the investigation, police confirmed that they had seized a number of items from Saraswati’s residence, including a sex toy and five CDs allegedly containing pornographic material. Additionally, police found three forged photographs purportedly featuring the accused alongside prominent figures such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former U.S. President Barack Obama, and a British political leader.
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ED searches: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah accuses Centre of targeting Cong leaders
Chamarajanagara (Karnataka) (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday accused the central government and its agencies of consistently targeting Congress members by using searches on their properties, and questioned why similar action is not taken against BJP leaders.
He was reacting to searches conducted by the Enforcement Directorate on Monday on several individuals, among them the sons of Karnataka Congress MLA N A Haris and the grandson of former Union Cabinet minister K Rahman Khan, in connection with a cryptocurrency-linked money laundering case.
"The central government always targets Congress leaders. Will they raid the houses of BJP leaders?" Siddaramaiah said in response to a question. More than a dozen premises in the city were searched as part of the operation carried out by the ED under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The premises searched comprised those of Mohammed Haris Nalapad and Omar Farook Nalapad, the sons of the MLA; Aqeeb Khan, the grandson of veteran Congress leader K Rahman Khan; and an alleged crypto hacker, Srikrishna Ramesh, alias Sriki, officials said.
The money laundering case stems from Karnataka Police FIRs and charge sheets filed in a 2017 case involving the hacking of national and international websites, theft of bitcoins, and the sale of these stolen virtual digital assets (VDAs) through crypto platforms by the alleged hacker Sriki and his associates.
Mohammed Haris Nalapad, Omar Farook Nalapad, and Aqeeb Khan are alleged to be beneficiaries of the proceeds of crime generated through this crypto-linked activity, officials added.
