RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, July 5: Sub divisional magistrate of Khunti Syed Riyaz Ahmed, whom the police had taken into its custody for questioning following allegation of sexual harassment today in the forenoon, was sent to jail.
The development took place after the victim, who is an IIT student, appeared before the court in police protection and gave her statement explaining how the SDM, a 2019 batch IAS officer, sexually harassed her on July 2 morning after a party at his home.
The action was taken under section 354 (criminal force to any woman, intending to outrage or knowing it to be likely that he will thereby outrage her modesty), 354A (physical contact and advances involving unwelcome and explicit sexual overtures or a demand or request for sexual favours from a woman) and 509 (using word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman)
It is alleged that on the night of July 1, the SDM had called the students of IIT for a party at his residence. At the party drinks were also consumed. In the intervening night of July 1 and 2 when number of those participating in the night party reduced the SDO made sexual advancement.
The student defended herself and registered a complaint at Khunti Mahila Police Station on July 4.
According to the information, the student is originally from Himachal Pradesh and is studying at IIT, mandi. The girl, who is pursuing a rural development course in Mandi branch of IIT, is a part of a 20-member team undergoing internship. According to the information, the district administration itself had called them for training regarding some programmes.
It has come to fore that the wife of the accused is also an IAS posted at Korba district of Chhattisgarh. She is from Dhanbad.
