Jitendra Narain, the former chief secretary of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, was questioned for the second day in a row on Saturday in relation to the alleged gangrape of a woman, 21, an official said.
Around 11 AM, inside Police Lines in Port Blair, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Andaman and Nicobar Police began interviewing the senior officer.
The questioning lasted for more than six hours.
To evade protests, Narain was taken inside the Police Lines grounds by a back gate. On Friday, the custom continued, and protesters holding banners mounted a demonstration at the main entrance.
On Friday, Narain was questioned by the SIT, which was led by senior IPS officer Monika Bhardwaj of the Andaman and Nicobar Police, for more than eight hours.
The inquiry team was established to look into claims that Narain and other senior officials, including the chief secretary, enticed the lady to their home with the promise of a career in government before raping her.
A police officer and a hotel owner were listed in the FIR as co-conspirators in the crime, while Labour Commissioner R L Rishi was also accused of raping the lady.
On Friday, the SIT also questioned the police inspector.
In Port Blair, Narain is being housed at a luxury hotel. As a result of a Calcutta High Court directive, the top official showed up to be questioned.
When Narain was appointed chairman and managing director of the Delhi Financial Corporation on October 1, the FIR was filed. On October 17, the administration placed him on immediate leave.
The woman said she needed a job since her father and stepmother weren’t providing for her financial requirements. She was recommended to the labor commissioner by certain individuals because he was friendly with the then-chief secretary.
In the FIR, she said that the chief secretary chose “7,800 individuals” in a variety of ministries responsible for running the islands’ administration “simply on the basis of recommendations” and “without any [formal] interview.”
The lady said that on April 14 and May 1, she was enticed to the chief secretary’s residence with the prospect of a government position before being sexually assaulted there.
Narain has been given temporary protection from arrest by a Calcutta High Court vacation bench made up of justices Bibek Chaudhuri and Prasenjit Biswas till a date that will be set by the circuit bench in Port Blair on November 14, the first day of session after the Durga Puja vacation.
The court also took notice of Narain’s declaration that he was prepared and willing to help with the inquiry. Narain was moved to Delhi on July 21.
On October 18, a joint team of police officials from Delhi and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands searched Narain’s home. As a result, Narain filed a petition with the Delhi High Court asking for transitory anticipatory relief.
The Delhi High Court’s only bench allowed interim protection from arrest to Narain till October 28.
