Congress MP Angomcha Bimol Akoijam appeared before Delhi Police in connection with a sexual harassment case registered against him following complaints made by students of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), while the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) intensified pressure by staging a protest rally in Imphal demanding his resignation.
According to officials, Akoijam, who represents the Inner Manipur parliamentary constituency, joined the investigation at Vasant Kunj North Police Station after receiving a notice from Delhi Police directing him to cooperate with the probe.
The case was registered on October 11 based on a complaint lodged by JNU’s Chief Security Officer. Police have booked Akoijam under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) relating to alleged sexual harassment and acts intended to outrage the modesty of a woman.
Before leaving Imphal for Delhi, Akoijam told reporters that he was complying with the police summons and expressed confidence that justice would prevail.
“I am going to Delhi because of a police summons. Don’t worry, justice will be done. This is the beginning of undoing all the injustices my people have faced over the decades,” he said.
Upon arriving in Delhi and appearing before investigators, the Congress MP said he felt as though he was entering an “alien place” despite having spent a large part of his life in the capital.
“I just came here because the Delhi Police has called me to join the investigation. I came to cooperate. I have a very busy schedule. If I don’t come, people will start saying that I am not cooperating,” he said.
Akoijam also reiterated his faith in the legal process and expressed hope that the investigation would be conducted fairly.
The developments come days after JNU dismissed Akoijam from his position as a professor at the Centre for the Study of Social Systems under the School of Social Sciences. The university said the dismissal followed an internal inquiry into complaints of sexual harassment and that its Internal Committee had recommended major disciplinary action.
According to reports, at least 11 female students submitted complaints against Akoijam in May, alleging inappropriate conduct and harassment. The students reportedly claimed that he invited them to his campus residence under various pretexts and engaged in inappropriate behaviour.
Meanwhile, the BJYM’s Manipur unit organized a protest march in Imphal demanding accountability and the resignation of the Congress MP. The rally began at the BJP headquarters at Nityapat Chuthek and proceeded towards Congress Bhavan under heavy security deployment.
Protesters carried placards bearing slogans such as “Give Justice to Daughter/Student”, “We Demand Justice”, “We Demand Truth” and “Save the Dignity of Manipur”. They demanded justice for the complainants and called for the truth to emerge through due process.
Outside Congress Bhavan, BJYM members raised slogans seeking justice, while members of the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC), standing behind barricades, responded with slogans criticising the BJP.
A BJYM leader questioned the silence of senior Congress leaders over the allegations and said the matter was a serious concern for Manipur because it involved a prominent academic and elected representative from the state.
Responding to the protest, an MPCC functionary described the demonstration as unusual and questioned why BJYM was directing its demands at the opposition despite the BJP leading the government in Manipur. He maintained that many people continued to support Akoijam and expressed confidence that justice would ultimately prevail.
The allegations against Akoijam have been denied by him. The matter remains under investigation by Delhi Police, and no conclusions regarding criminal liability have been reached. The allegations should not be treated as established facts unless proven through due process and the judicial system.
