Sunil Paraskar, Deputy Inspector General of Police, was suspended by the Government of Maharashtra following accusations of rape against him.
The suspension was signed on Tuesday by Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan after he was accused of molestation by a model-turned actress.
According to news reports on August 27, the proposal for his suspension was pushed forward by the State Home Department, which was given the nod by the Chief Minister later.
Paraskar’s lawyer defended the officer by stating it to be a false accusation and questioned the genuineness highlighting the delay in the registration of FIR.
The 25-year-old model alleged Paraskar had sexually assaulted her on two separate occasions in December 2013. She also mentioned that her first meeting with Paraskar took place in 2012 when he was serving as the Additional Commissioner of Police.
The FIR was registered against him in the month of July for the charges of rape against the police officer under section 376(2) of the Indian Penal Code. A case was also registered under 354(D) of IPC for sexual harassment by means of stalking.
Paraskar, who filed the pre-arrest bail after a week, was granted the same by a local court. The bail was granted after closer observation of the court on the complainant’s conduct.
The email exchanges carried out between the accused and the complainant were also scrutinized, which suggested the consent of the complainant.
Maharashtra government has justified the suspension. The file recommending the suspension of Paraskar will now be moved forward to the Department of Personnel and Training at the Centre.