The National Students’ Union of India, the student wing of the Congress, on Monday said it has taken suo motu cognisance of sexual harassment allegations made against its National President Fairoz Khan.

A former NSUI worker from Chhattisgarh has levelled sexual harassment allegations against Khan, The Indian Express reported. The complainant reportedly sent a letter to the media with details of several WhatsApp conversations between Khan and two others.

Ruchi Gupta, who is in charge of the NSUI on the national level, said the complainant has not approached the party. “A former state office bearer has emailed media alleging harassment by the NSUI national president,” Gupta wrote on Twitter. “It is notable that we have received no complaint from her. However, given the seriousness of charge, we have taken suo motu cognisance and have set up an All India Congress Committee panel to investigate.”

Khan told The Indian Express that the charges against him were “absolutely baseless and politically motivated”. He claimed that all his communication with her had been through official mail.