State sits on filing appeal against Sunil Paraskar's acquittal

The state doesn't seem inclined to appeal in Bombay High Court against the sessions court verdict in the rape case against former Maharashtra Deputy Inspector General of Police Sunil Paraskar. The 90-day period to appeal is over and the state law and judiciary department that falls under the chief minister has been sitting on the police's request to move court despite repeated reminders.

Sunil Paraskar. File pic

On December 4, last year, the Dindoshi sessions court discharged Sunil Paraskar accused of molesting and raping a city-based model. The complainant, a 25-year-old model, had alleged that Paraskar (57) sexually assaulted her on two occasions in December 2013.

In July 2014, an FIR was registered against Paraskar by Malwani police under sections 376(2) (rape by a police officer), 376 C (intercourse by superintendent of jail, remand home, etc) and 354(D) (stalking) of IPC.

Soon after that, he had got a pre-arrest bail from a special court for women's cases and later, he was acquitted. "We had asked the law and judiciary department to appeal in the Bombay HC against the Session court's order. The 90-day period to appeal is over and if at all we get permission to appeal, which looks difficult, we will have to go for condonation of delay," said Special Public Prosecutor Pradeep Gharat, who is representing the state in the matter.

In condonation of the delay, the state government will have to give a reason for the delay in appealing. This might also help Paraskar, who is now posted as additional commissioner of police with the traffic division of Mumbai Police.