Jharkhand: IAS Officer Suspended For 'Sexually Harassing' IIT Student

The incident took place when the students were attending a dinner, hosted at the Deputy Development Commissioner's residence, on Saturday.

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New Delhi: The Jharkhand government on Friday suspended IAS officer Syed Riaz Ahmed, who was arrested for allegedly sexually harassing a trainee IITian, news agency PTI reported. According to the report, Ahmed, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Khunti, was arrested on Tuesday, and sent to judicial custody for two weeks after the IIT student lodged a police complaint against him.

"Chief Minister Hemant Soren has given direction to suspend Syed Riaz Ahmed, posted as SDM Khunti. The SDM was charged with sexual harassment case," a statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office said.

According to police officials, eight engineering students of an IIT, including the victim, had come to Khunti from another state for training.

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The incident took place when the students were attending a dinner, hosted at the Deputy Development Commissioner's residence, on Saturday.

When the SDM found her alone at the party, he allegedly sexually harassed her, the victim told the police in a statement.

Prima facie the police found the allegation to be true after they interrogated Ahmed and some other guests who attended the party that day, officials said.

Ahmed has been booked under IPC sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman), police further said.

Notably, a court on July 5 had remanded the accused officer to judicial custody for 14 days.