Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Oct 31: A police inspector has been booked for allegedly sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl multiple times inside the Crime Branch office in North Goa, with the alleged assistance of a woman, police said on Saturday.

The accused officer, Inspector Vikas Deykar, and Ranjini Palyekar, who allegedly facilitated the assaults, have been booked under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Director General of Police Alok Kumar said the Goa Police follows a zero-tolerance policy towards misconduct and has initiated both legal and departmental action against the accused officer and the woman.

According to police, the alleged incidents took place inside the Crime Branch office at Ribandar on July 25 and October 27.

The minor had initially approached the Child Helpline with a grievance, which was forwarded to Deykar. She subsequently lodged a complaint alleging that the inspector had sexually assaulted her inside his office.

The accused have been booked under Sections 75 and 127 of the BNS, relating to sexual harassment and wrongful confinement, respectively. They have also been charged under Sections 10 and 12 of the POCSO Act, pertaining to aggravated sexual assault and sexual harassment.

As the allegations concern incidents that allegedly occurred within the Crime Branch premises, the case has been transferred to Old Goa police station for further investigation.