Gujarat High Court on Wednesday criticised the state government and police for trying to protect former BJP MLA Gajendrasinh Parmar, who is alleged to have sexually assaulted and harassed a woman.

Justice Niral Mehta asked the authorities why they were protecting Parmar on the pretext of the woman blackmailing him, and why a complaint was not registered in the first place.

The court also sought to know why the accused was given a clean chit if there was no complaint against him?

In such a serious allegation, the police should first file a direct FIR as per the Supreme Court’s judgment in Lalitha Kumari’s case, the court said.

The court has asked the government to submit a report on October 14.

Instead of investigating the crime in this case, the police have investigated the personal life of the woman, the court observed.

The government’s side argued that the woman was called four times for a statement during the investigation, but she did not appear before the police as settlement talks were on. According to the government, the woman also presented an affidavit that she has settled the case.

Now, a year later, she wants to file a complaint, the government argued.

In response, the court asked why the woman was called four times for a statement. The HC also said that instead of registering a complaint from the woman, the police went into her character assassination.

The woman had accused the BJP MLA of sexual harassment in 2021. However, no police complaint was filed for three years.