Thane, April 3 A clerk has been suspended for allegedly sexually harassing a female colleague at the Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) in Thane district, days after an FIR was registered against him in the matter, officials said on Friday.
The accused, Bhushan Baliram Patil, a contractual employee, was stationed at the 'E' ward office, covering 27 villages in the Dombivali area.
"This is a serious crime related to obscenity. Reports about this misconduct have been circulated on social media, tarnishing the image of the Kalyan Dombivli municipality," said KDMC Commissioner Abhinav Goyal in Patil's suspension order on Thursday.
In her complaint to the Manpada police station in Dombivali, a female employee of the corporation had accused Patil of engaging in obscenity and seeking sexual favours. Based on the complaint, an FIR was registered against Patil five days ago, an official said.
The woman staffer has been transferred to another ward to ensure a fair environment, he said. Patil has been asked to remain at the municipal headquarters during the suspension period.
"A thorough internal investigation will be conducted alongside the police probe," the official said.
Patil rejected the allegations. "The complaint filed against me is out of vengeance, intended to defame me," he said, adding that he has already presented his side to the administration through his lawyer.
Sources said Patil had earlier been suspended in connection with a corruption racket involving a senior civic official but was later reinstated by a suspension review committee.