A retired officer of Chhattisgarh social welfare department was arrested for allegedly molesting a woman employee last year when he was in service, police said today.
As Neelambar Prasad Patel (63), former deputy director of social welfare department, had obtained anticipatory bail, he was released on a bond of Rs 25,000 after his arrest yesterday, said Station House Officer of Chakradharnagar police station,SushantoBanerjee.
On April 5, Patel secured anticipatory bail from the Supreme Court.
A woman subordinate officer had complained to the Raigarh Collector in September, 2015 that Patel molested her in the office. He pressurised her to have aphysical relation with him and made indecent gestures, the complaint alleged.
The Collector Alarmelmangai D ordered a probe by 'Vishakha committee' (internal panel for inquiry in cases of sexual harassment as per the SC's Vishakha judgement) which found that prima facie the charges were true and recommended to the Superintendent of Police on September 30,2015to take action against Patel.
Chakradharnagarpolice then lodged a case under IPC section354(assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and509(word or gestures intended to insult the modesty of a woman). He moved the apex court for pre-arrest bail after the lower courts refused him relief.
After retirement, Patel was on a contractual appointment at the department last year. His contract was terminated after the complaint was filed.
