Prabha Kishor Taviad case: Lok Sabha panel summons Dahod officials

The Privileges Committee of Lok Sabha has summoned the SP, collector and two deputy SPs of Dahod district on July 20 in connection with Congress MP Prabha Kishor Taviad’s complaint. Taviad had complained that she was manhandled while she was going to attend the Gujarat Divas celebrations on May 1.

The parliament had entrusted the enquiry to National Commission for Women (NCW) which submitted its report a few days back. In its report, NCW has recommended that a thorough inquiry be conducted against police officers allegedly involved in the incident. NCW member Nirmala Samant said that their enquiry had found that police action against the MP was unwarranted. “We have found that her detention under Section 68-69 of Bombay Police Act was illegal as the sections are not applicable in the case. She was properly invited as an MP to the celebrations. She had an official invitation card and a car parking pass,” said Samant. 

“It is also recommended to the Gujarat government that it should instruct its police officers to refrain from targeting people selectively, be it MP or any common person. We have also sought an Action Taken Report (ATR) in 30 days,” Samant said. Other senior police officials, including the DGP, may also be summoned. Taviad had alleged in the Lok Sabha that she was manhandled by the state administration during the Gujarat Divas celebrations.

Taviad would also be called before the panel on the same day to give "additional evidence", committee chairman PC Chacko said in New Delhi.