Mumbai: A 2021 batch IPS officer from Maharashtra cadre, Darshan Dugad, was booked for allegedly raping and cheating a young doctor, following a complaint lodged at Imamwada Police Station in Nagpur. The officer, currently serving as the sub-divisional police officer in Nandurbar district, has reportedly gone into hiding since the First Information Report (FIR) was filed.
According to the victim, their acquaintance began on Instagram in November 2022 while she was pursuing her MBBS degree. What started as a digital friendship soon turned into a romantic relationship. During his period of unemployment, the complainant claims she extended financial support to Dugad, including paying for his mother's medical expenses.
According to a report by The BuckStopper news portal, the FIR states that Dugad invited her to Kerala under the pretext of a vacation, where he allegedly forced himself on her in a hotel room. A similar incident reportedly occurred later in Nagpur. Despite her trust and support during his preparation phase, the victim alleges that Dugad’s behaviour changed after he cleared the UPSC exam and was inducted into the Indian Police Service.
Following his selection, Dugad was sent to Hyderabad for official training. The complainant visited him there as well, but the relationship reportedly turned abusive. She claims that when she pressed for marriage, Dugad not only refused but allegedly subjected her to caste-based slurs and physical assault. These allegations are now part of the official complaint.
Case Filed Under Several Sections Including SC & ST Act
After what she described as two years of physical, emotional and psychological trauma, the woman decided to approach the police. A case has been registered against Dugad under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including rape, cheating, criminal intimidation, assault and provisions under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, given the caste-based abuse she has alleged.
Police officials confirmed that teams have been deployed to trace the accused, who has gone missing since the complaint was filed. Senior officers have also been alerted and an internal inquiry is underway alongside the legal investigation.
