Suspended deputy inspector general of police Sunil Paraskar, accused of molesting and raping a city-based model, was on Friday discharged in the case by the Dindoshi sessions court in Mumbai.
Mr Paraskar had filed a discharge application on June 30 this year, saying the charges against him were baseless and that the complaint against him was false.
On July 24, 2014, a 40-year-old model had lodged a complaint accusing the officer of raping and molesting her between November 2013 and March 2014, when he was posted as the additional commissioner of police (North Region). The police registered a case of molestation and rape under section 376(2) (rape by police officer), 376(c) (intercourse by superintendent of jail, remand home), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 354D (stalking) of the Indian penal Code (IPC) has been registered.
ADVERTISEMENT
“We presented in court the complainants emails and WhatsApp messages expressing her love and affection for Mr Paraskar,” the suspended officer’s defence lawyer Rizwan Merchant said.
Mr Paraskar said he and his family suffered much humiliation in the past one-and-a-half years. “It was embarrassing to meet constables who worked under me. Looks of people speak more than words. A number of officers have committed suicides owing to false cases. I too contemplated suicide. I have gone to jail. I would not have survived it, neither would my family,” he said.
Pointing to “shirking” of responsibilities in the police force, he said though the Mumbai police commissioner had ordered an inquiry into the woman’s allegations, the officers kept passing the buck to subordinates. A case was registered with any inquiry report being submitted to the CP.
ADVERTISEMENT
Mr Merchant said the defence had produced transcripts of conversation between the woman and her lawyer Rizwan Siddiqui, in which she speaks of teaching Mr Paraskar “a lesson.”
Mr Paraskar said since she wanted to participate in the television show Bigg Boss, she needed a controversy. He was granted anticipatory bail by a Mumbai session court on August 12. He was the recipient of the President’s medal for meritorious service, served as additional commissioner of police for the high profile Special Branch of Mumbai police and played a role in the arrest of Kandahar accused.