IAS officer arrested for allegedly molesting Delhi woman

A case under sections 354 of the IPC (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and other sections were lodged against Shashi Bhushan Sushil, Special Secretary in the Technical Education Department.

The 2001-batch officer has since been suspended, IG law and order B P Singh told reporters here.

Sushil also faces charges under sections 376 (rape), 511 (attempt to commit offence) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC under which he can be imprisoned for life.

According to the FIR lodged by the mother of the woman travelling with her, the officer, who boarded the second AC coach from Ghaziabad indulged in obscene acts and the conductor and train escorts were duly informed, Singh said.

On their arrival here this morning, the FIR was lodged with the Government Railway Police (GRP) by the woman, an IT professional.

Sushil was detained after the train reached the Charbhagh railway station here and police interrogated him for four hours before arresting him.

Refuting the molestation charge, the officer claimed that he had got into a verbal duel with the woman after she made a casteist remark against him following a dispute over luggage.

The government has also removed inspector GRP Anil Rai who allegedly tried to delay the matter and impose less stringent sections in the FIR though the home department refuted the charges.

Sushil was later produced before a local Railway court which remanded him in judicial custody for 14 days.

Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said no one would be spared and strict action would be taken against those showing disrespect to women.