IAS officer arrested for molesting domestic help in Chhattisgarh

Raigarh: An IAS officer was on Tuesday arrested for allegedly molesting a 16-year-old girl who was working as his domestic help here in Kharsia, police said.

"AK Dhritlahre (56), then Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Kharsia region was arrested for molesting the girl four months back," Kharsia Sub Division Officer of Police (SDOP) Ashok Wadegaonkar said.

However, the officer was released on a bail bond of Rs 25,000 as he had got an interim bail from Chhattisgarh High Court in this connection, the SDOP said.

"Investigation in the case is about to get over and very soon a chargesheet will be filed in a local court in this connection," he added.

On June 15, the victim, in a complaint to the Raigarh Collector and SP had alleged that Dhritlahre molested?her several times in May while she was working as a maid at his official residence under Kharsiya police station limits.

Soon after the incident surfaced, a four-member joint team of administrative officers and police was constituted to probe the matter.

Meanwhile, Dhritlahre was transferred to office of the Collectorate Raigarh.

"Based on findings of the probe panel, Dhritlahre was booked on June 24 under section 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of IPC and section 8 of POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offence)," the SDOP said.

A local court had on July 11 rejected the anticipatory bail plea of the officer in the case but the HC later granted him interim bail on August 4.

Presently, Dhritlahre is posted with the Office of Collectorate in Dhamtari district as Joint Collector.