andaman: Ex-Andaman chief secretary grilled for over 6 hours on second day in gang rape case

Former chief secretary of Andaman and Nicobar Islands Jitendra Narain was on Saturday questioned for the second day in a row in reference to the alleged gang rape of a 21-year-old lady, an official stated.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT), shaped to probe into allegations that the lady was raped by Narain and one other official by promising her a authorities job, interrogated the ex-chief secretary for round six and a half hours. He was grilled for over eight hours on Friday.

The SIT, headed by senior IPS officer Monika Bhardwaj of the Andaman and Nicobar Police, began questioning the senior official at round 11 AM on Saturday at Police Lines in Port Blair. He left the premises at 5.30 PM, the official stated.

He could also be known as once more for questioning on Sunday, in keeping with a supply.

Narain, who’s staying at a non-public resort right here, was introduced contained in the Police Lines premises by a rear gate to keep away from protesters, as was achieved the day before today.

Besides him, Labour Commissioner R L Rishi was additionally accused of raping the lady whereas a police inspector and a resort proprietor have been named within the FIR as accomplices within the crime.

The police inspector was additionally interrogated by the SIT on Friday.
Narain arrived right here to face questioning following a Calcutta High Court order.

An FIR in opposition to him and others was registered on October 1 when Narain was posted because the chairman and managing director of the Delhi Financial Corporation. The authorities suspended him on October 17 with speedy impact.

The lady stated as her father and stepmother didn’t deal with her monetary wants, she required a job and was launched by some individuals to the labour commissioner as he was near the then chief secretary.

She claimed within the FIR that the chief secretary appointed “7,800 candidates” in varied departments within the administration of the islands “on the basis of recommendation only” and with none “formal interview”.

The lady alleged that she was lured to the chief secretary’s dwelling with the promise of a authorities job, after which raped there on April 14 and May 1.

A trip bench of the Calcutta High Court comprising justices Bibek Chaudhuri and Prasenjit Biswas has granted interim safety in opposition to arrest to Narain until a date that can be mounted by the circuit bench in Port Blair on November 14, on its first date of sitting after the Durga Puja trip.

The court docket additionally famous that Narain, who was transferred to Delhi on July 21, has declared that he’s prepared and keen to cooperate with the investigation.

A joint group of cops from Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Delhi had raided the home of Narain on October 18.