New Delhi, Oct 17, 2022, By Special Correspondent

New Delhi, Oct 17: The Union Home Ministry Monday suspended senior IAS officer Jitendra Narain after he was accused of sexually assaulting a woman in Port Blair when he was the Chief Secretary of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The IAS officer was posted as Chairman and Managing Director of Delhi Finance Corporation at the time of his suspension.

“The MHA today placed Jitendra Narain, a 1990-batch senior IAS officer of AGMUT Cadre and then Chief Secretary of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, under suspension with immediate effect over an allegation of an alleged sexual assault of a woman,” the MHA said in an official statement.

“The action was taken a day after the MHA received a report from the Andaman and Nicobar Police regarding the alleged sexual assault,” the official said.

“As the report indicated the possibility of grave misconduct and misuse of the official position on the part of Jitendra Narain, Union Home Minister directed to take immediate strict action against the officer concerned, as per law. Accordingly, Jitendra Narain has been placed under suspension with immediate effect and disciplinary proceedings have been ordered against him,” the MHA release said.

However, the bureaucrat has rejected the allegations terming them 'absurd'. Narain had also reportedly sent a 'representation' to PMO and the Union Home Secretary denying the charges against him.

The MHA also stated that the government committed to 'ensuring zero tolerance towards indiscipline acts by its officials, irrespective of rank and status, especially involving dignity of women'. 

"An FIR has been registered and action in the criminal case is being taken separately by the SIT of Andaman & Nicobar Police," the MHA statement said.

The 21-year-old woman has accused two serving bureaucrats including IAS officer Jitendra Narain and RL Rishi, who is currently posted as Labour Commissioner in A&N Islands of gang-raping her.

The woman has also accused a labour officer of sexual assault. An FIR in this regard was registered at Aberdeen police station in Port Blair on October 1 following a complaint by the woman on August 22. Both the bureaucrats have been named in the FIR.

Following this, police formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the allegations, and the woman was also provided police security.

In her police complaint, the woman demanded that CCTV footage be recovered from Narain's residence in Andaman. The woman stated in the FIR that she was assaulted on two occasions in April and May at the IAS officer's residence in Port Blair.