IAS officer held in UP for molesting woman on train

Lucknow : A senior Indian Administrative Services (IAS) officer of the Uttar Pradesh government was arrested Monday for molesting a woman on board the Lucknow Mail train, sent to judicial custody for 14 days and placed under suspension.

Shashi Bhushan was suspended on the orders of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.

The chief minister also ordered the transfer of Railway Police Inspector Anil Rai for not slapping tougher penal sections on the disgraced official.

Bhushan was arrested by Railway Police after the woman, who was on board the Lucknow Mail train, lodged a formal complaint on arrival in Lucknow, according to police. The IAS officer has denied the allegations against him.

Inspector General of Police (Railways) Ashutosh Pandey confirmed to IANS that Bhushan was arrested on charges of molestation.

Ordering Bhushan’s suspension, the chief minister said for my government the safety and security of women was a priority and we will not hesistate in taking action against anyone involved in such incidents.

Bhushan was working as the special secretary (technical education) with the Uttar Pradesh government.

Victim Neeru Saxena, an executive with Google India, alleged that the official molested her on board the train when she was travelling with her mother-in-law.

The official, however, denied the charges and said they have been concocted by the woman after he had a tiff with her over luggage-keeping.

Bhushan was later produced before a railway magistrate who sent him to 14 days judicial custody.