Maharashtra govt suspends rape accused senior cop Sunil Paraskar

Mumbai: Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police, Sunil Paraskar, accused of rape and molestation by a city model, was suspended on Tuesday.

The Home Department had proposed his suspension, which has been approved by Chief Minister Prithivraj Chavan, an official said in Mumbai tonight.

"The proposal to suspend Paraskar was sent to Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan. The file regarding Paraskar's suspension was received this afternoon in the CM office and Mr Chavan has given approval to the action," he said.

A court in Mumbai had recently granted Paraskar pre-arrest bail, observing the complainant's behaviour and her email exchange with him suggested consent.

Paraskar filed pre-arrest bail application on July 25, a week after an FIR was registered against him by suburban Malwani police under sections 376(2)(rape by a police officer), 376 C (intercourse by superintendent of jail, remand home, etc) and 354(D) (stalking) of the Indian Penal Code.

The complainant, a 25-year-old model, has alleged Paraskar (57) had molested and sexually assaulted her on two occasions in December 2013.

According to her, she had met Paraskar first in 2012 when he was Additional Commissioner of Police with regard to a case.

Paraskar's lawyer argued that the allegations were false and pointed to the delay in registration of FIR.