Woman who accused CJI of sexual abuse withdraws from inquiry

New Delhi: The woman who accused Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi of sexual harassment on Tuesday said she was boycotting the "in-house proceedings" due to "serious concerns and reservations".

In a detailed statement to the media today, she said, "I felt I was not likely to get justice from this committee and so I am no longer participating in the 3-Judge Committee proceedings".

The decision about in-house, private hearings by a three-member panel was taken last week by the full court.

The three-member panel initially named was also tweaked after her objections.

Justice NV Ramana, who was initially named, had withdrawn from the panel after the woman complained that he was a family friend of the Chief Justice and a second woman judge was named.

The panel now comprises Justices SA Bobde, Indu Malhotra and Indira Banerjee.

The woman said she started participating in the proceedings even though it was an "in-house committee of sitting judges, junior to the CJI and not an external committee as I had requested".

But she alleged that the "atmosphere of the committee very frightening and I was very nervous because of being confronted and questioned by three Supreme Court Judges and without even the presence of my lawyer/support person".

She also said there was no audio or video recording of the proceedings as she requested, and she was not given a copy of her statement.

The complainant - a former employee of the top court - had made the allegations against the Chief Justice in an affidavit sent to several judges last week.

Chief Justice Gogoi has denied the allegations, saying he is being targeted as he is slated to heat several important cases shortly.