Official booked for ‘sexual assault’ on building inspector

Charanjit Singh Teja

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 17

A case of rape was registered against Municipal Town Planner (MTP) Narinder Sharma on the complaint of a building inspector here on Wednesday.

The complainant stated that Sharma, who was then Assistant Town Planner, had started harassing her since her attachment with him as an inspector. “He repeatedly sent indecent voice and text messages through WhatsApp. I blocked his number. When I opposed, he threatened to issue a charge sheet besides getting me expelled from the job,” she stated.

According to her, he visited her house once and asked her father that he wanted to marry her. On the pretext of marriage, he “raped” her several times. Meanwhile, when he was transferred to Patiala, he allegedly forced her to go along with him as he would manage her transfer. When she refused, he started threatening her, she alleged.

The victim also claimed that she was not aware that Sharma had also a daughter of her age. After that, she filed a complaint with the SC Commission. On June 28, a local councillor raised her issue following which the MC constituted a sexual harassment committee. The committee also reported against Sharma. Paramdeep Kaur, in-charge of the women’s cell, said, “We have registered a case against the accused under Sections 354-D, 376-C and 506 of the IPC. No arrest has been made so far.”