RPF DIG Rawal to be interrogated by GRP in molestation case

Patna, July 15 (UNI) Deputy Inspector General of Railway Protection Force (RPF) P J Rawal, accused of molesting the wife of an IPS officer inside a train compartment last week, will be brought here tomorrow for interrogation by the Government Railway Police (GRP).

Investigating officer of the sensational case Alok Singh told UNI here today that following his arrival from New Delhi, Rawal would be produced before a designated Railway Court here on July 17 where a team of GRP officials would question him about the charges of molestation brought by Sujata, wife of the IPS officer, and her sister Vandana Preyasi.

Vandana, a Bihar cadre IAS officer, was also travelling in the Patna bound Sampurnakranti Express from New Delhi on the night with her sister when the DIG allegedly molested Sujata.

Mr Singh said a notice to Rawal had already been served asking him to appear before the designated court for interrogation.

However, if Mr Rawal failed to appear before the court by Tuesday, he would be booked under sections 174 and 175 of IPC for violating the order, Mr Singh added.

The issue of the alleged molestation inside the train compartment by the DIG on July 8 night had rocked the state after the incident came to the fore following the filing of an FIR with the GRP by Ms Sujata on the following day. She is the wife of Delhi based IPS officer Gautam Cheema.

Though initially efforts were made in certain quarters to hush up the matter branding it as a 'minor issue', following directives from Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, a team of inquiry was commissioned to probe the charges.

Accordingly, a team of GRP from here went to New Delhi to arrest Rawal, who in turn managed to get a bail before being served the notice to appear in the GRP court here.

UNI