Senior IAS Officer Jitendra Narain, Accused Of Rape In Andaman, Suspended By Centre

In a statement, the Home Ministry said it was committed to ensuring zero-tolerance towards the acts of indiscipline by its officials irrespective of their rank and status.

Representational Image. (Source: File Photo)

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs on Monday suspended senior IAS officer Jitendra Narain after he was accused of raping a woman in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, PTI reported. In a statement, the Home Ministry said it was committed to ensuring zero-tolerance towards the acts of indiscipline by its officials irrespective of their rank and status, especially with regard to incidents involving the dignity of women.

Narain has been placed under suspension with immediate effect and disciplinary proceedings have been ordered against him.  Narain is presently posted as the chairman and managing director of the Delhi Financial Corporation.

"MHA placed Jitendra Narain, a 1990-batch senior IAS officer of AGMUT Cadre & then Chief Secretary of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, under suspension with immediate effect over allegation of an alleged sexual assault of a woman," a statement issued by Jt Secy (UT Division) in MHA Ashutosh Agnihotri said.

AGMUT refers to the Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram and Union Territory cadre of the centre's civil services.

The action was taken a day after the MHA received a report on October 16 from Andaman and Nicobar Police regarding the alleged sexual assault.

"As the report indicated the possibility of grave misconduct and misuse of the official position on the part of Jitendra Narain, the Union Home Minister directed to take immediate strict action against the officer concerned, as per law," the statement said.

The ministry said an FIR had been filed and action in criminal case was being taken separately by a Special Investigation Team of Andaman & Nicobar Police.

"Central govt is committed to ensuring zero tolerance towards indiscipline acts by its officials, irrespective of rank & status, especially involving dignity of women," the statement said.

The 21-year-old woman lodged the complaint with the police on August 21 in which she gave a detailed account of the alleged sexual attack on her twice -- in April and May -- and requested for preserving the CCTV footage of former chief secretary Jitendra Narain's residence for evidence.

Following this, a Special Investigation Team was constituted to probe the allegations.

(With inputs from agencies)