The Nagaland Police have formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe allegations of sexual and mental harassment involving Reny Wilfred IAS, the Joint Secretary at IDAN Kohima. The SIT, led by a senior IPS officer, was established following the registration of an FIR on 2nd April 2025, in connection with the harassment complaints filed by female employees at the IDAN office. Four additional officers have been co-opted to assist in the investigation.
The case, according to a statement from Nagaland police, came to light after a written complaint was submitted to the Nagaland Police by the Chairperson of the Nagaland State Women Commission (NSWC), Nginyeih Konyak, on 17 March 2025. The complaint, which followed an earlier verbal intimation from IDAN Chairman Abu Metha, alleges that some of the female employees of IDAN were subjected to sexual and mental harassment by Wilfred.
Following the complaint, the NSWC took cognizance of the complaint under section 5 and 6 of the Nagaland Women Commission Act 2006, and recorded the statements of the victims on 5 March, 2025. An official letter dated 3rd March, 2025 was also submitted by the IDAN Chairman, which enclosed the employees’ written complaint to him.
Upon receiving the letter from the NSCW, the Nagaland Police initiated a Preliminary Enquiry (PE) on 25 March 2025. A report submitted on 1st April 2025 by a Deputy Superintendent of Police confirmed the allegations and recommended further investigation. The findings of the PE led to the formal registration of the FIR under Sections 74/75(2)/79 of the BNS Act, confirming that a cognizable offence of sexual harassment had been committed.
According to the police, a copy of the FIR has been forwarded to the Court, the Chief Secretary of the State, and the NSWC.
“Investigation of the case is undergoing and Police team is looking into all aspects of the allegations,” the statement added.
Wilfred’s earlier case
It may be mentioned that Wilfred is already facing trial in an earlier case registered under SCPS Case No. 04/2021. The case, filed under Sections 10 and 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and Sections 354A and 354B of the Indian Penal Code, pertains to allegations of molestation involving two underage girls who were engaged as domestic help during his tenure as Deputy Commissioner of Noklak at his Official Residence.
“After thorough and detail investigation a Charge sheet in the matter was filed on 02/12/2021 in the court of Special judge (POCSO Act) Tuensang. After going through the Chargesheet, the Hon’ble Court took cognizance of the Charges and commenced the Trial. As per information available with police, since then the case is under trial at Tuensang and 34 out of 50 Prosecution witnesses have deposed in the instant case,” the police added.
Khiamniungan Tribal Council questions Wilfred’s child trafficking claim
The Khiamniungan Tribal Council (KTC) has questioned the claim made by former Deputy Commissioner of Noklak, Reny Wilfred, about the existence of a child trafficking network in the district.
In a press statement issued on Friday, the KTC recalled that Wilfred came as the first Deputy Commissioner of the district on August 6, 2020, and was posted there till July 28, 2021.
“Since then, there have been no such child trafficking cases filed or registered at any of the police stations under Noklak district nor reported in any of the related childcare and protection institutions under Noklak district, except one molestation case against the two juvenile girls who were allegedly assaulted by Mr. Reny Wilfred himself, the then Dy. Commissioner, Noklak, in the year 2021,” the KTC stated.
“Therefore, the existence of a child trafficking statement made by Reny Wilfred on social media platforms under Noklak district is unsubstantiated,” the statement read.
The council also questioned why the officer had remained silent during his tenure as DC if child trafficking was prevalent in the district then.
“His fabricated child trafficking allegation defaming the entire populace of Noklak is to deviate from his actual offence, which is not subject to arise in this instant case,” it said.
“Besides all, the KTC urges the law-enforcing agencies to expedite the pending case and deliver justice to the victims as per the law,” it added.