Rape charge against IAS officer

Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, Aug 14 (UNI) A special court in this district has framed charges against IAS officer Vinod Katela -- posted in neighbouring Madhya Pradesh -- accused of raping his female subordinate.

Judge Mahendra Rathore also framed charges yesterday under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

On March 19, 1999, the superintendent of a local tribal hostel lodged a complaint against the then Additional Collector Katela accusing him of sexual exploitation. The bureaucrat was posted in Madhya Pradesh after creation of Chhattisgarh. In May, he was arrested at Jabalpur and brought here. The High Court granted bail.

UNI