FIR against former Janjgir-Champa district collector for allegedly raping a woman; CM Baghel orders suspension

Chhattisgarh: A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against the then collector of Janjgir-Champa district JK Pathak for allegedly raping a woman on May 15. Pathak was transferred as Commissioner, Land Records on May 27. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel directed the state secretary to suspend the IAS officer and ordered an investigation into the matter. 

Janjgir-Champa district SP said that the accused IAS officer allegedly sent obscene photographs to the complainant and allegedly raped her in his office. 

"She alleged that he used to send her obscene messages and raped her in his office. Mobile records have been verified and an FIR has been registered. A probe is currently on in the case," the SP said. 

On Wednesday, Janjgir-Champa district police issued a press release and said that a woman personally appeared before the SP and submitted a complaint that Pathak had threatened to suspend her husband and raped her at the district collectorate premises. The woman also submitted supplementary evidence including photographs of derogatory messages that the collector allegedly sent her. 

She was reportedly hesitant to file a case against the senior officer fearing consequences, as a result of which there was a delay in registering the complaint, reports suggested. 

The police have now filed a case under Sections 376  of IPC for rape, 506 for criminal intimidation and 509 for an act of insulting the modesty of a woman. 

According to reports, Pathak, the 2007-batch IAS officer called the woman to his office at the pretext of offering work. This is the second such case against a senior IAS officer in Chhattisgarh. Earlier, in 2012, an officer posted in Jashpur as a collector was sent to jail for seven years for exploiting a woman employee.