Absconding Deputy Inspector-General of Police (Motor Transport Dept) Nishikant More was finally suspended from his service on Thursday for allegedly molesting a minor girl at a birthday in June last year.
More’s suspension came hours after a Raigad Court rejected the DIG’s plea seeking an anticipatory bail.
The Maharashtra government also suspended More’s driver Dinkar Salve for allegedly threatening the father of victim girl at a Panvel court hearing More’s anticipatory bail plea on Tuesday.
Confirming the two suspensions, Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said: “We have formed police teams to look out for the absconding DIG. We have also suspended the DIG’s driver for threatening the father of the victim girl”.
The Navi Mumbai police said that they had formed three teams to trace the absconding DIG. “ We are confident of arresting him soon,” a senior investigating officer said.
The alleged incident had taken place at birthday party of the victim girl at her Navi Mumbai residence on June 5, 2019, where More had barged in when the girl was cutting the cake and allegedly molested her.
Though the victim’s family had lodged a complaint with the police against the DIG, the police dilly-dallied on registering a case against More. Finally on July 26, the police booked DIG for alleged molestation.
Meanwhile, the 17-year old victim left her home three days ago, leaving behind a note threatening that she would commit suicide. In her note, she held More responsible for her suicide.
The police are on the look-out for the victim girl. “ We do not think that the girl would commit as we have seen her in the CCTV footage of her building where she was carrying a bag while leaving her home shortly before midnight on Monday along with her male friend. We have learnt that the male friend lives in Navi Mumbai,” a senior police officer said.
Eyewitnesses to the incident have told the police that the victim girl’s birthday on June 5 last year was attended by several inivitees. Some of them offered thre cake and also smeared it on her amid clapping and singing.
More, who was standing next to the victim girl, reportedly scooped some of the cake from her face with his fingers and licked it. He allegedly continued to lick the cake pieces even when it fell on her chest. Upset with More’s misconduct, the victim girl subsequently lodged the molestation complaint against More. Afterwards, the DIG allegedly stalked the victim girl. He even humiliated and taunted the victim girl’s family members over the birthday party incident.