The Madras High Court has dismissed a petition filed by former special Director General of Police (DGP) Rajesh Das, who sought exemption from surrendering despite being found guilty of making sexual advances towards a female Indian Police Service (IPS) officer. Das had already been convicted and sentenced to three years in prison by the Villupuram Chief Judicial Magistrate. Despite his appeal being dismissed by the Villupuram Principal District Court, Das approached the High Court with a revision petition seeking exemption from surrender until the disposal of his revision.

Justice M. Dhandapani refused to grant Das exemption from surrendering and stated that he must first surrender, go to jail, and then seek the suspension of the sentence and bail during the revision process in the High Court. Das had sexually harassed a woman Superintendent of Police while they were providing security for the Chief Minister during election campaigns. The Madras High Court’s decision reinforces the seriousness with which sexual harassment cases are treated.