Sunil Paraskar discharge to be challenged

The crime branch has decided to challenge the order of a trial court that discharged suspended IPS officer Sunil Paraskar in the case of molesting and raping a city-based model.

The trial court had discharged Paraskar in the case on December 4. A source from the crime branch said, “We are planning to appeal in the high court, seeking permission to try Paraskar in the case. A request has been sent to the government regarding this and we are awaiting the home department’s go-ahead.”

Earlier, when The Asian Age contacted the 25-year-old complainant (name withheld to protect her identity), she stated, “I am shocked at the discharge order.”

The complainant said that the case should have been tried and all witnesses should have been heard, including, the complainant herself.

The complainant, a 25-year-old model, had alleged that Paraskar had molested and sexually assaulted her on two occasions in December 2013.

According to her, she had met Paraskar first in 2012, when he was an additional commissioner of police, regarding a case.

According to a court order the act was consensual, therefore, the case is not valid. Paraskar was suspended on August 2014 after the charges of rape and molestation were added. The case was first registered in Malwani police station, but it was handed over to the crime branch later.

Soon, after the FIR was registered against him, the senior police officer filed an anticipatory bail plea. Subsequently, in August 2014, a special court for women’s cases granted Paraskar pre-arrest bail, observing that “it appears from the behaviour of the complainant and her e-mails that the act must be committed with consent.”

In the bail order, the court had also said jealousy could be a possible motive behind the complaint against Paraskar. It also noted that even after the alleged offence, the complainant’s behaviour towards him was normal.