Nagaland bureaucrat denies molestation allegations

April 10, 2025 4 Views No Comment

Morung Express News
Kohima | April 10

State bureaucrat Reny Wilfred today ‘categorically’ denied allegations of sexual harassment and molestation, amid reports of a new FIR (First Information Report) being filed against him by the Nagaland Police.

As per new reports, the FIR was filed against him by the police after the Nagaland State Women Commission (NSCW) forwarded complaints of “alleged sexual assault from several women.”

Speaking to the media in his defence on April 9, the Joint Secretary of Planning and Industrial Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN) claimed that he was not aware of “any of the things” and instead countered that the NSCW ‘short-circuited’ due process.

Political conspiracy?
According to Wilfred, an alleged political conspiracy was hatched when senior Nagaland Police officer had sought financial and technical support destabilise the then Neiphiu Rio led-government. He declined to name the officer. However, Rio was not in power that time.

Subsequently, he claimed that a group was formed to target him after he declined to support the conspiracy, including a ‘first attempt’ at arrest or FIR in January 2021.

However, the issue was brought to the notice of the government and the arrest was avoided, he claimed, adding that “people from outside Nagaland” are behind the curtain playing this game.”

“I will expose them through court, through due process and through other sources,” asserted Wilfred, adding that he willing to give the evidence (documents) to the intelligence agencies, and not the Police department of the state.

Meanwhile, Wilfred also claimed that during his tenure as Deputy Commissioner of Noklak, he had uncovered a child trafficking operation and had taken steps to address it.

He stated that he possesses video evidence related to the issue and alleged that certain individuals from a family who had supported his efforts “died under suspicious circumstances” though no post-mortem examination was conducted.

Sharing photographic ‘evidence’ showing injuries on the deceased, he added “Instead, I now face a complaint against me. As the matter is sub judice, I request the opportunity to present my case in court.”

Alleges conflicting roles
Wilfred also accused the legal counsel of the Nagaland State Commission for Women (NSCW) of holding multiple conflicting roles—representing the NSCW, the police department, and the alleged victims—and acting with bias.

The legal counsel was simultaneously employed as a teacher, advocate, and legal consultant violating the Advocates Act, he alleged.

To this end, the bureaucrat maintained that for sexual harassment complaints, ‘due process’ should be followed by giving it to the internal complaints committee, which must be then evaluated and submitted to the police for further evaluation.

“The whole process has been cross-circuited or short-circuited to ensure that a case is filed and fixed,” he claimed.

Claims character assassination
Wilfred also claimed that female colleagues are being falsely portrayed as having been favoured or abused to tarnish his character.

“There have been written submissions by many people saying their names have been dragged into this issue without their consent or knowledge,” he claimed.

Wilfred further suggested that attempts are being made to damage his reputation and push him out of the state.

However, he asserted that has no intention of leaving Nagaland, adding, “If I am forced to move out of Nagaland, you will all believe that I have run away or gone absconding from Nagaland because I have actually done something wrong.”

Plea for time to prove himself
Requesting the tribal bodies, women association, student bodies and other civil society organisations to give him time to prove himself of this alleged ‘fabrication,’ Wilfred reiterated, “I am not running away from here… Allow me time to prove myself.”

“I am willing to go to jail if it comes to that. I am prepared this time. I am willing to go to any extent this time to ensure that the truth prevails,” he asserted.

It must be note here that the former DC of Noklak, Wilfred was earlier accused of sexual misconduct by two girls and case as registered at Noklak Police Station in August 2021. The case later taken over by the State Crime Police Station.

The former DC, facing trial in a in a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO) case Court in the Tuensang Court, filed a transfer petition in the Gauhati High Court Kohima Bench, seeking to move the case elsewhere citing threats to life and personal liberty. However, the petition was rejected. The matter is currently under trial.