KOLHAPUR: Deputy conservator of forests (DCF) for Sangli, Vijay Mane was booked for allegedly sexually harassing a lady range forest officer on April 28.
A case was registered against him under Section 354 and 354A of CrPC at MIDC Sangli police station late on Friday night.
Police inspector Avinash Patil, MIDC Sangli police station said, "A case has been registered against Mane on Friday night after a lady range forest officer alleged that he sexually assaulted her at district forest office on April 28, 2022 between 4.45pm to 5.45pm."
As per the FIR, the 30-year-old victim recorded that she used to visit district forest office for routine office work once or twice a week. On April 28, when she came to Sangli office located in Kupwad area, after having discussion about forest work, the accused called her near him to show his personal diary and in the mean time touched her inappropriately and sexually assaulted her. The RFO somehow stopped Mane and left the district office to return to her office.
After the incident, the RFO said that she was under enormous mental trauma and finally lodged a police complaint against Mane.(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme court directives on cases related to sexual assault)
