SBI official accused of sexual assault

SNS, Gangtok, 18 July 2013: A senior bank official posted at Gangtok had to face public anger after a female employee accused him of sexual assault at the State Bank of India regional office. 

The Regional Manager, Mr Sunanda Das (54), was dragged to the Sadar police station after his female subordinates filed a written complaint accusing him of alleged sexual assault and passing of lewd comments at them at the workplace. 

The incident spread like wildfire in the capital and women activists and a large number of SBI senior and subordinate employees reached the police station. 

The Superintendent of Police (East), Mr Manoj Tewari, informed that the complainant filed a general diary in the police station. 

“The bankers said that they will make the manager tender an apology” said Mr Tewari. High drama unfolded outside the police station and inside the SBI main branch as women employees demanded him to apologise publicly by offering khadas (traditional silk scarves) to them. 

Ruckus continued inside the bank as local women leaders and several female bank employees demanded the accused's suspension and expulsion. 

Public anger against the alleged act on female employees was evident as customers and by-standers also barged inside the bank and attempted to attack the accused manager. 

Police later intervened and escorted him to safety. It is said that Mr Das would be relieved from duty and sent outside Sikkim immediately.