A young domestic help hailing from Jharkhand has accused a senior Indian Foreign Service officer of sexually assaulting her while he was posted in Kenya and approached the police seeking his arrest.
While the Ministry of External Affairs said it will look into the allegations, the Delhi Police registered a case against Ketan Shukla, a 1986-batch IFS officer now posted in Ahmedabad, charging him with rape and criminal intimidation.
The 22-year-old woman hailing from Jharkhand alleged Shukla had sexually assaulted her during their stay in Kenya where he was working at the Indian mission as its Deputy High Commissioner. Shukla, who was posted there between 2007 and 2010, has denied the allegations.
She charged that Shukla harassed her sexually besides torturing her after taking her to Kenya. She also alleged she was threatened by him and her salary was not paid, sources said.
"I told them (National Commission for Women and the police) about what happened with me. They have promised me that they will take action," the victim said.
Denying the charge, the IFS officer said "we have treated her like our daughter. She was free to stay in the house. She used to cook her own food. She used to eat our food whenever she wanted".
Reacting to the allegations against the diplomat, the External Affairs Ministry said "the matter has just come to the Ministry's attention through media reports. It will be looked into with all the seriousness that it deserves. "The Ministry has always thoroughly investigated every complaint against its officials and taken prompt and suitable action wherever required," MEA's official spokesman said.
Besides filing a complaint with the police, the woman had approached the National Commission for Women which has sought an Action Taken Report from the External Affairs Ministry and the Delhi Police on the allegations.
Girija Vyas, NCW Chairperson, said it was a "very serious matter" and based on the ATR, the Commission would initiate further action in accordance with law. The victim approached the police after an NGO came to know about her "ordeal".
A police official said a case under sections 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of Indian Penal Code has been registered against Shukla.
"The medical examination of the woman will be conducted tomorrow as she has expressed inability to undergo the tests tonight," the police official said.
