Accused of rape, DIG Sunil Paraskar suspended, may face assets probe
The government has justified the suspension move.
Sunil Paraskar (Source: Express photo by Prashant Nadkar)
Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Tuesday ordered the suspension of DIG Sunil Paraskar, who has been accused of raping a model. The state government is also contemplating a probe into the disproportionate assets of the officer in view of reports by the police that expensive gifts were exchanged between Paraskar and the victim.
A separate file on the institution of a probe into disproportionate assets is likely to be floated, sources said. On August 22, the state Home Department moved a file recommending the suspension of Paraskar, following a report submitted by Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria. On Tuesday, Home Minister R R Patil gave his assent and forwarded the file to the CM’s office, seeking Paraskar’s suspension. The nod of the CM is required in such matters as Paraskar is an IPS officer. The file will now be moved to the Department of Personnel and Training at the Centre.
The government has justified the suspension move stating that Paraskar’s conduct was unbecoming of a public servant. His suspension is based on investigations of the Mumbai police that revealed that he was taking undue interest in the victim. Prima facie he has been found guilty of breaking service conduct rule which disallows an IPS officer to give gifts, which are over Rs 5,000. According to the Mumbai Police, there was an exchange of several expensive gifts, including an iPhone, a watch, a pen and a bottle of perfume.
He was also found guilty of travelling with the victim in an officials’ police vehicle to areas outside his jurisdiction. The probe also showed that the two frequently visited government rest houses and malls. The state has raised the flag for how Paraskar was raising money for all these expenses.
“One of the requirements for an inter-departmental inquiry is that the officer should be suspended from duty so that he is not in a position to influence the probe. We have followed the same procedure and recommended his suspension,” a senior state official said. The complainant, a 25-year-old model, alleged that Paraskar (57) molested and sexually assaulted her on two occasions in December 2013.
She said she met Paraskar first in 2012, when he was additional commissioner of police. Paraskar’s lawyer argued that the allegations were false and pointed to the delay in the registration of an FIR.
mumbai.newsline@expressindia.com
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