MP: IAS officer held on rape charge suspended

Bhopal, May 18: Madhya Pradesh cadre IAS officer Vinod Katela has been suspended after being sent on judicial remand for sexually assaulting a tribal woman working as hostel superintendent in Chhattisgarh.

''Mr Katela, at present posted as Additional Commission of Jabalpur division, has been placed under suspension as his detention period exceeded 48 hours'', an official release said today.

He was arrested from Jabalpur on May 14 and remanded to judicial custody at Bilaspur next day. Later he was shifted to a hospital there after complaining about chest pain.

In her complaint, the tribal woman said Mr Katela, during his posting as chief executive officer of the district panchayat, had sexually assaulted her on the promise of marrying her. However, he refused to marry her later.

UNI