Bimol Akoijam has come under fresh political scrutiny after a delegation of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) women MPs approached Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on October 15, seeking an Ethics Committee inquiry into sexual harassment allegations linked to Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).
The delegation submitted a memorandum requesting parliamentary scrutiny of the Congress MP from Inner Manipur. The BJP members also asked the Speaker to examine whether the allegations and the university’s internal inquiry findings have any bearing on his continuation as a member of the Lok Sabha.
BJP MPs seek Ethics Committee probe into Bimol Akoijam
BJP MP Daggubati Purandeswari said the delegation had urged Om Birla to refer the matter to the House Ethics Committee. The members want the committee to examine the case and consider its implications for Bimol Akoijam’s parliamentary position.
Purandeswari said the delegation had highlighted the findings of JNU’s internal committee while requesting further scrutiny. She added that the Speaker had assured them he would examine the memorandum and consider the legal options available.
However, the request does not automatically trigger an Ethics Committee investigation. The Speaker must consider the representation and determine the appropriate course of action under parliamentary procedures.
The BJP delegation has also questioned the Congress leadership’s response to the allegations. Its members urged senior Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, to address the matter publicly.
The latest development adds a parliamentary dimension to a controversy that has already led to disciplinary action at JNU and a police investigation in Delhi.
JNU dismisses Bimol Akoijam after internal inquiry
JNU dismissed Bimol Akoijam from his position as a professor on October 9 following an inquiry into allegations of sexual harassment. He had been associated with the university’s Centre for the Study of Social Systems under the School of Social Sciences.
Reports said 11 female students had complained to the university’s Internal Committee about alleged misconduct. The complaints reportedly concerned inappropriate remarks and behaviour during academic interactions.
According to reports on the inquiry, the committee examined the complaints and other available material before recommending disciplinary action. The university subsequently terminated his services, citing the inquiry findings and applicable service rules.
The university’s decision has become a central point in the political debate surrounding Bimol Akoijam. BJP leaders have argued that the findings warrant closer scrutiny beyond the university.
Nevertheless, the university’s disciplinary decision and the criminal investigation are separate processes. Any criminal liability must be determined through the applicable legal process, rather than assumed from political statements or institutional action alone.
Police investigation adds to the controversy
Delhi Police has also registered a first information report (FIR) concerning the allegations against Bimol Akoijam. Reports said the case followed a complaint by JNU’s chief security officer.
The police investigation is examining allegations linked to the university. Akoijam has questioned the handling of the university inquiry and challenged claims about his cooperation with the process.
The registration of an FIR marks a step in the investigation, but it does not establish criminal guilt. Investigators must examine the available evidence and follow the procedures required by law.
Meanwhile, the controversy has attracted attention in Manipur, where Akoijam represents the Inner Manipur constituency in the Lok Sabha. Political reactions have intensified as the university’s action and police proceedings have progressed.
The case therefore involves several distinct questions: the university’s disciplinary findings, the police investigation and the possible implications for parliamentary conduct.
Congress faces questions over its response
The BJP has used the controversy to challenge the Congress party’s position on women’s safety and accountability. Its women MPs have called on the party leadership to clarify its stance on the allegations against Bimol Akoijam.
The criticism has widened the dispute between the two parties. BJP leaders argue that the issue deserves a clear response from Congress, while the parliamentary memorandum seeks scrutiny through established House procedures.
However, political criticism does not determine the outcome of an inquiry. Any assessment of the MP’s conduct within Parliament would need to follow the relevant rules and consider the issues within the Ethics Committee’s remit, if the Speaker refers the matter.
The development also raises questions about how allegations against elected representatives should be handled when they overlap with disciplinary proceedings at an institution and a criminal investigation.
What happens next in the Bimol Akoijam case?
The immediate question is whether Om Birla will refer the memorandum concerning Bimol Akoijam to the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee. The Speaker’s consideration of the request will determine whether the matter proceeds through that parliamentary channel.
If referred, the committee would examine the issues placed before it within its mandate. Any recommendations or further action would depend on the applicable rules and the findings of the parliamentary process.
Separately, Delhi Police will continue to handle the criminal investigation, while the university’s dismissal remains a distinct disciplinary matter.
For now, the BJP delegation’s request represents a demand for parliamentary scrutiny, not a final decision by the House. The next steps will depend on the Speaker’s response, the relevant parliamentary procedures and developments in the legal investigation. The outcomes of these separate processes will be important in determining the case’s broader implications.
RIMS Imphal Forms Four-Member Panel to Probe 25-Year-Old Woman’s Death After Childbirth
