Yesterday, I happened to glance at the Television debates on the serious charges made against Tarun Tejpal. Regretfully, some participants provided an escape route for the accused. They argued that the victim has a freedom of choice whether to pursue her complaint before the in-house inquiry or pursue the criminal investigation.
A criminal offence is a crime against a victim. It is also a crime against society. This is precisely why the ‘State’ pursues a criminal action. The public exchequer pays for it. There is a larger public interest in punishing a criminal. A departmental or an in-house inquiry and a criminal trial complement each other. They are not alternatives. Punishing an offender acts as an deterrent in the larger interest of the society
It is the duty of one and all to encourage victims to depose truly and faithfully. Public interest must always prevail over private embarrassments. The ‘alternative option’ theory is an accused-friendly approach.