Mumbai model accuses IPS officer of rape, FIR registered

Mumbai: An FIR has been registered against a senior IPS officer of Maharashtra after a young model-turned-actor accused him of rape and molestation last year, police said on Thursday.

"An FIR was registered against DIG Sunil Paraskar last night after a model complained that she was raped and molested by him," Assistant Commissioner of Police Ramesh Lokhare said.

57-year-old Paraskar has been booked under IPC sections 376(2)(rape by a police officer), 376 C (Intercourse by superintendent of jail, remand home, etc) and 354(D) (stalking which interferes with the mental peace of a person or causes distress, fear of violence or alarm), by Malwani police station last night on the victim's complaint, Joint Police Commissioner (Crime) Sadanand Date said.

The probe has been transferred to Crime Against Women Cell of the crime branch headed by Deputy Police Commissioner Sharada Raut, he said.

The 25-year-old model had approached Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria on Tuesday with the complaint of rape and molestation against Paraskar, Deputy Inspector General (Protection of Civil Rights Units) posted at the Maharashtra police headquarters.

The matter was referred to the Women Cell, which conducted a preliminary enquiry and then the FIR was registered at Malwani police station against the 1997-batch IPS officer. The offence was allegedly committed at a hotel within its jurisdiction in suburban Malad.

The model has alleged that Paraskar had on two occasions molested and sexually assaulted her in the last quarter of 2013, police said.

According to police, the victim met Paraskar in 2012 when he was Additional Commissioner of Police (North Region) in Mumbai with regard to a case. Since then he tried to be friendly with her, allegedly molested her once and raped her on the second occasion.

Asked if police had gathered sufficient evidence to arrest the officer, Date said, "We are collecting evidence and at the right time appropriate decision will be taken."

He said the woman had undergone some medical tests on Thursday.

The model-turned-actor has featured in some TV advertisements and is working in a Bollywood film for the first time.

Paraskar, who was shifted as DIG in March this year, was not available for comments.

The Home Ministry has sought a report from the Maharashtra government over the alleged rape of a model by a senior IPS officer.

The Home Ministry, being the cadre controlling authority of the Indian Police Service officers, sought the report after an FIR was registered against Deputy Inspector General of Police Sunil Paraskar last night in Mumbai after a model accused him of rape, official sources said.