Mumbai: The case against Mumbai DIG Sunil Paraskar for alleged rape and molestation of a model took an unexpected twist on Monday.
In his statement recorded by Mumbai Police, Rizwan Siddiqui, the model's first lawyer claims that she had never informed him that she was raped by DIG Sunil Paraskar. Siddiqui submited the CCTV footage of his meeting with the model where they are shown to be discussing the case.
Siddiqui said that the model wanted to tarnish the DIG's image and create a controversy to participate in a TV show.
A month before filing the complaint against Mumbai DIG Sunil Paraskar for alleged rape and molestation, the model had threatened to expose him. In the e-mail exchanges between Paraskar and the model, accessed by CNN-IBN, she also mentions the name of Bollywood actress Poonam Pandey and has alleged that Paraskar was showing her pictures to the former.
The police then said that contents of emails exchanged seemed to suggest that Poonam triggered the strain in the relationship between Paraskar and the model.
According to contents of the emails, the 25-year-old model was furious with Paraskar and had stated that he met her professional rival Poonam Pandey, a police officer who is privy to the probe said.
However, Paraskar pleaded with her, saying he had neither met anybody called Poonam Pandey nor spoke to her, the police officer said, quoting emails exchanged between Paraskar and the model in June.
As per the model' complaint, Paraskar was booked under Section 376 (2) (rape by a police officer), Section 376 (C) (intercourse by superintendent of jail, remand home, etc) and Section 354 (D) (stalking) of the Indian Penal Code, at the Malwani police station on July 23.
In her emails, the model had accused Paraskar of sharing her messages with Poonam Pandey. She had also claimed that Poonam, who is her professional rival, would show these messages to Bollywood producers and directors to tarnish her image, the police official said.
"Poonam Pandey's name emerged in emails exchanged between Paraskar and the model but we are yet to decide if Poonam's statement is required in this case or not," Deputy Police Commissioner Mahesh Patil said.
Another police officer said these electronic mails were exchanged after the alleged rape and molestation that occurred between November 2013 and January 2014.
"Hence, we will see Poonam's relevance to the case and then, if needed her statement will be recorded," the police officer said.
The 57-year-old Deputy Inspector General Sunil Paraskar (Protection of Civil Rights Unit) is at present posted at the Maharashtra Police Headquarters.
Investigators have identified two places, including a bungalow in Madh Island in suburban Mumbai, as well as a flat in neighbouring Navi Mumbai where the alleged incidents had taken place.
Paraskar has been questioned twice so far. Asked to comment, Poonam Pandey said, "I have neither met Paraskar nor the survivor. I feel sorry for her and I do not know why my name is being dragged into the matter".
However, she said that in case she was called to record her statement, she would co-operate with police investigators. "I have full faith in the police and if they call me, I will surely go and record my statement," Poonam Pandey said.
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