Woman accuses IFS officer of sexual assault; MEA to inquire

A young domestic help hailing from Jharkhand has accused a senior diplomat of sexually assaulting her while he was posted in Kenya and approached police seeking his arrest.

Reacting to the allegations against the diplomat, the External Affairs Ministry said, "The matter has just come to Ministry's attention through media reports. It will be looked into with all the seriousness that it deserves.

"The Ministry has always thoroughly investigated every complaint against its officials and taken prompt and suitable action wherever required," the MEA official spokesman said.

The woman filed her complaint with Moti Nagar police station claiming that she was sexually harassed by Ketan Shukla, the then Deputy High Commissioner in Kenya. He was posted there between 2007 and 2010, police sources said.

She claimed that Shukla harassed her sexually besides torturing her after taking her to Kenya. She also alleged that she was threatened by him and her salary was not paid, the sources said.

"I told them about what happened with me. They (NCW and Police) have promised me that they will take action," the victim said.

Shukla, who is presently posted in Ahmedabad, denied the allegations and termed them as "very shocking".

"We have treated her like our daughter. She was free to stay in the house. She used to cook her own food. She used to eat our food whenever she wanted," he said.

Besides filing a complaint with police, the woman had approached National Commission for Women which has sought an Action Taken Report from External Affairs Ministry and the Delhi Police on the allegations.

Girija Vyas, NCW Chairperson, said it was a "very serious matter" and based on the ATR, the Commission shall initiate further action in accordance with law.

The victim approached police after an NGO came to know about her "ordeal". Police said they were verifying the claims. "We are investigating the matter. We are verifying the claims," a senior police official said.