A B.C. woman has filed a lawsuit against a former Delta police inspector as well as the city and police department alleging damages arising from a sexual assault.
In a notice of civil claim filed in B.C. Supreme Court on Feb. 22, the woman — known only as A.B. — alleges Varun Naidu contacted her via LinkedIn after she expressed an interest in a policing career.
She responded via text with questions, after which Naidu offered to mentor her, the claim alleges.
A.B. alleges Naidu probed her Sikh upbringing and her sexual orientation.
“The purpose of Naidu’s various messages and texts, en masse, was to groom the plaintiff for ease of sexual contact,” said the claim, filed by lawyer Sandra Kovacs.
Named as defendants are Naidu, the Corporation of Delta, Delta Police Board and Delta Police Department.
The claim goes on to say the two met March 2 to discuss the career opportunity. The claim said Naidu asked to speak in private so they went to her car. Then, the claims alleges, Naidu’s conversation became explicitly sexual.
Two days later, the claim said, Naidu called her and suggested “she should pleasure herself on the telephone so he could listen to it and become sexually aroused.”
She became worried as Naidu had her address on her resumé. The court documents say A.B. blocked his number and called the Maple Ridge RCMP.
The claim asserts Naidu was in a position of trust over A.B., and that she was in a vulnerable position.
Further, it asserts, the city and police board, as Naidu’s employers, are vicariously liable for the alleged behaviour.
A.B. says she suffered multiple injuries, including post-traumatic stress disorder, hypervigilance, isolation, distorted thinking, self-sabotaging behaviour, anger and frustration, inability to trust authority and depression.
The situation was subject of an Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner investigation, resulting in a 2019 report.
Acting Staff Sgt. Mike Whiteley said the police department and the city are in receipt of the claim and will respond accordingly.
“[Delta Police] Chief [Neil] Dubord reviewed Chief Green’s findings and supported the decision to dismiss Mr. Naidu,” he said
“The Delta Police Department does not tolerate or condone harassment, bullying or discrimination, especially in relationships of trust and power imbalances,” Whiteley said. “This policy and practice is reflected in the department’s comprehensive policy and training. Mr. Naidu’s employment records reflect his dismissal from the Delta Police Department.”
None of the allegations in the notice of civil claim have been proven in court.
