Ex-Andaman chief secretary suspended over allegations of rape

“The Government is committed to ensuring zero tolerance towards the acts of indiscipline by its officials irrespective of their rank and status, especially with regard to incidents involving the dignity of women. An FIR has been registered and action in the criminal case is being taken separately by the SIT of Andaman & Nicobar Police,” the statement added.

The Indian Express had on October 15 reported that two serving bureaucrats, including Narain, have been accused of sexual assault and gang rape by a 21-year-old woman in Port Blair.

Based on a complaint from the survivor, an FIR was lodged at the Aberdeen police station in Port Blair on October 1 against Narain and RL Rishi, posted as labour commissioner in Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The police have set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the allegations.

When contacted in New Delhi at the time of filing of the first report on the matter, Narain had said he would not like to comment on the “absurd” allegations. Sources close to him had said he had sent a “detailed representation” to the Prime Minister’s Office and the Union home secretary, among others, denying the charges.

Rishi was unavailable for comment and his office told The Indian Express that he was on “medical leave”. The Indian Express has confirmed that the licence plate of the car mentioned by the woman – in which she was taken to Narain’s house — is registered in Rishi’s name.

In the FIR (No. 165/2022), the complainant has asked that CCTV footage from Narain’s house should be collected and that she would identify his staff who should also be questioned.

The woman’s complaint, accessed by The Indian Express, gives a detailed account of the purported violent sexual attack on her on two occasions in April and May at Narain’s official residence in Port Blair.

In her complaint, the woman said that in search of a job, she was introduced to the labour commissioner through a hotel owner and the commissioner took her to the residence of the chief secretary. There, she said, she was offered liquor which she refused and was assured government employment. Subsequently, she alleged, she was brutally and sexually abused by the two men.

Two weeks later, she alleged in the complaint, she was again called at 9 pm to the chief secretary’s residence and the assault was repeated. Instead of the promised government job, she alleged, she was threatened with dire consequences if she spoke about the matter to anyone.

Narain has reportedly claimed, in his written denials, that the accusations were at the behest of local officers against whom he had taken action as chief secretary and they were behind a “malicious” campaign against him. He has said he would fully cooperate with the police and was willing to face trial.