Probe against IFS officer for sexual harassment in Ranchi

Jharkhand minister Vimla Pradhan today said she had asked a member of the state women's commission to inquire allegations of a girl hailing from Gumla about 'sexual exploitation' by an Indian foreign service officer when they were in Kenya.

"A member of Jharkhand Women's Commission today met me and apprised of the girl's narration. I told her to investigate into it," Pradhan, social justice, women and child welfare and tourism minister, said.

"I will also speak to the state women's commission later this month to discuss whether there could be a policy on women so that we can protect them effectively," she said.

Stating that the guardians should be aware of 'middlemen' to strengthen the government's effort in controlling 'trafficking of girls', Pradhan said the state government would take whatever steps possible to prevent trafficking of girls and give justice to the women.

The 22-year-old domestic-help had on December 3 alleged before the police that Ketan Shukla, a 1986 batch IFS officer, 'sexually assaulted' her while they were in Kenya where he was posted as India's deputy high commissioner.

The officer had since denied the charge.