An internal police inquiry has indicted suspended IPS officer Sunil Paraskar, accused of raping a model, for professional misconduct.
The inquiry report, which The Hindu has access to, has been submitted to the State Home Department. The probe has already led to departmental proceedings against the officer, which could even lead to his dismissal.
While the rape charges against him are being probed by the Crime Branch, the State Home Department had suspended Mr. Paraskar in August and ordered a departmental inquiry, which was conducted by the joint police commissioner Vivek Phansalkar.
Mr. Paraskar was accused of raping a Gladrags model who approached him to lodge a case of against an escort agency for impersonation and using her pictures to lure clients in 2013.
The report says Mr. Paraskar’s interactions with the alleged victim were far more than what one would expect between a police official and a member of the public.
The report says Mr. Paraskar’s conduct was unbecoming of an officer. “He overstepped his mandate by meeting the alleged victim for reasons other than the complaint she had filed. There were many text messages and email exchanges between them during the period of the alleged crime. He also accepted gifts for helping her lodge the case, which is in violation of the duty conduct rules,” an officer privy to the findings told The Hindu .
The inquiry has also found that Mr. Paraskar’s meetings with the complainant during working hours had impacted his administrative duties. “He used his official vehicle for his meetings with her, which again is against the rules,” said the official on condition of anonymity.
Currently, an IAS officer is conducting departmental proceedings against Mr. Paraskar based on the internal probe. He will prepare a charge sheet and allow Mr. Paraskar an opportunity to defend himself. The final report will be submitted to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for further action.
