IAS officer arrested for raping, molesting minor girls

Pune: When the whole nation is mourning the death of honest IAS officer D.K Ravi, in a case that has been came to light from Pune an IAS officer was arrested for allegedly raping a minor girl and sexually assaulting three others.

According to police, Maruti H Sawant, the 58-year-old director general of Maharashtra council of agricultural education and research, was a frequent visitor to his father-in-law's apartment on Sinhgad road, where the alleged assaults took place. They alleged Sawant used to lure girls, who used to come to play in the parking lot of the apartment, by offering money, biscuits and chocolates.

“Shocked at the incident, the school counsellor immediately informed the head mistress, who in turned took the help of the local BJP corporator Srikant Jagtap. Jagtap and his wife immediately informed police,” said inspector Balwant Kashid of Sinhgad station.

Though only four girls have come forward till now, the police suspect that the officer might have assaulted more.

Sawant, who was promoted to IAS in 1998, was taken to Sassoon hospital for medical examination after arrest. He is a resident of Shivaji nagar area.

Sawant has been charged under sections 376 (rape), 354 (molestation), section 6, 8, 10 of protection of children from sexual offences Act and section 67 of Information Technology Act under the Indian Penal Code.