The Chief Justice of Madhya Pradesh High Court, A.M. Kanwilkar has constituted a panel to probe into the sexual harassment allegations levelled by former judicial officer against Justice S.K. Gangele of the High Court’s Gwalior Bench.
The probe panel was constituted following a letter written by the Chief Justice of India R.M. Lodha to Justice Kanwilkar seeking a report as expeditiously as possible after conducting an enquiry. The panel included Justices Ajit Singh and Mrs. S. R. Waghmare.
Justice Gangele had already denied the allegations of sexual harassment levelled by judicial officer, Sangeetha Madan against him and said he was ready to face any probe by the CBI or any other agency.
In a letter sent to the Chief Justice Khanwilkar, he said “if any allegation be found proved, I am ready even to face death penalty.”
The woman judge who had resigned on July 15 had in her complaint alleged sexual harassment by a High Court judge and said after she refused to yield to his advances, she was transferred from Gwalior to a remote place Sidhi in Madhya Pradesh during the middle of academic session. She said “I resigned in compelling and humiliating circumstances to save my dignity, womanhood, self-esteem and career of my daughter.”
