In an information received by Police Commissioner of Ludhiana , Swapan Sharma, Ludhiana police registered a case against a senior scientist of the Central Institute of Post-Harvest Engineering and Technology (ICAR-CIPHET) on June 9th. The allegations of molesting a female colleague, stalking her, defaming her, and threatening her to circulate morphed photographs of her were put against the scientist. The accused has been identified as Dr. Yogesh Kumar Somvanshi, who is serving as a Senior Scientist under the All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP). The complainant is also a Senior Scientist in the Food Grains and Oilseeds Processing Division of ICAR-CIPHET and maintain a professional relationship.
In her complaint to the police the woman scientist stated that the accused had previously been posted in Ludhiana and that she knew him only as a colleague. She confirmed that no kind of personal relationship was ever initiated between the two. However, after the senior scientist’s recent posting in Ludhiana, his behaviour towards her changed. It allegedly became inappropriate and objectionable. For her comfort, she distanced herself from the accused.
Thereafter, it was noted that he started sending her a series of unsolicited messages on WhatsApp. The messages allegedly included abusive, insulting, defamatory, and threatening content. It was also told that the accused also claimed to have morphed and edited photos of the victim and threatened to use them to damage her marital life and professional career.
The woman scientist further alleged that the accused shared her private photographs, chats, and other personal information with various people, including some vendors associated with the department, without her consent. She claimed that this was done with the intention of tarnishing her image and harming her professional reputation. According to the complainant, the accused repeatedly threatened her with serious consequences. He allegedly warned that he would publicly circulate morphed photographs to damage her social standing and marital life.
The complainant informed the police that the matter is also under investigation by the institute’s Internal Complaints Committee (ICC), constituted under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013. The committee had issued a notice to the accused directing him to submit his response and relevant documents. Following an investigation, the PAU Police Station registered an FIR against the accused on June 22 under Sections 75 (sexual harassment), 78 (stalking), 79 (words, gestures, or acts intended to insult a woman's modesty or invade her privacy), 336(3) (forgery for the purpose of cheating), 351(2), and 356 (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
According to the police, both the accused and the complainant are senior scientists at the same institution. During the Police Commissioner’s inquiry, the accused stated that they had been friends and regularly communicated through chats
The complainant, however, alleged that the accused recorded video-call screen sessions and sent her threatening messages. She further claimed that he shared those screen recordings and chat conversations with colleagues. Police officials said the FIR was registered only after a detailed investigation into the allegations.