Pune: BJP Associate Accused Of Harassing Woman Doctor In PMC; Complaint Filed With State Women’s Commission

Pune, 5th June 2025: A serious case of harassment has emerged in Pune where a senior woman doctor working with the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has accused a city-level office bearer of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of subjecting her to continuous harassment for the past five months. Despite lodging complaints with the PMC Commissioner and the Internal Complaints Committee, no action has been taken, forcing her to escalate the matter to the Maharashtra State Women’s Commission.

According to the complaint, the woman officer had first approached the Municipal Commissioner in January this year with a written statement detailing the harassment. She requested immediate intervention to ensure a safe working environment, highlighting the severity of the situation. However, no action was taken by the Commissioner, and her plea went unanswered.

Subsequently, she filed a complaint with the Internal Complaints Committee within the PMC. While a hearing was conducted, no follow-up or outcome was communicated to her, and the harassment allegedly continued unabated.

Frustrated by the inaction, the woman officer has now submitted a formal complaint to Rupali Chakankar, Chairperson of the Maharashtra State Women’s Commission. Officials from the Commission have since visited the PMC office and recorded her statement as part of their inquiry.

The incident has raised serious concerns about the efficacy of grievance redressal mechanisms within the civic body. “If a senior woman officer within the municipal system cannot find justice despite repeated complaints, where does one turn for redress?” such questions are being raised.