Jitendra Narain, the bureaucrat arrested in the sex-for-jobs scandal in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, is a St Stephen's alumnus who has held high offices in the Delhi government and central ministries.
Former Chief Secretary Narain was arrested in a gang rape case connected to the alleged job racket on Thursday, 10 November, after a local court rejected his anticipatory bail plea.
Over 20 women were allegedly taken to IAS officer Narain's residence in Port Blair during his tenure between 2021 and 22, some of whom are said to have gotten jobs after being sexually assaulted, as per a report in The Indian Express.
The Ministry of Home Affairs had suspended Narain on 17 October, based on a report indicating the possibility of "grave misconduct and misuse of official position."
Education From Delhi University
Hailing from an influential family of Begusarai in Bihar, Jitendra Narain is a civil services officer of the AGMUT (Arunachal, Goa, Mizoram and Union territories) cadre, from the 1990 batch. He was born in 1966.
As per PSU Watch, the IAS officer completed his schooling from St Paul School in Darjeeling, and then went to to pursue his graduation from the reputed St Stephen's College, Delhi University.
Among 'Top 50 Bureaucrats', Narain Has Held High Posts
Narain has served as the additional commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the director of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCTD) during the Sheila Dikshit government in Delhi, at the director level in the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, and as the principal residency commissioner of Arunachal Pradesh, among other posts.
He is credited with executing the division of Delhi into 9 districts and the 'Delhi Sarkar Aapke Dwar' programme, as per PSU Watch.
He was posted as the chairperson and managing director of the Delhi Financial Corporation when the MHA ordered his suspension.
The officer was named among the 'Top 50 Bureaucrats' in a 2019 list prepared by Fame India, Asia Post, and PSU Watch.
Narain's Response
Denying the allegations, Narain had reportedly written to the Home Ministry and the A&N administration that a conspiracy was afoot against him and that he had "specific materials which demonstrate the fake nature of the case."
A special investigation team (SIT) had questioned Narain thrice in connection with the case before his arrest.
RL Rishi, the Other Accused in The Case
A 21-year-old complainant has alleged that when she approached the-then Labour Commissioner RL Rishi for a job, he took her to Narain’s residence. Here, the survivor was allegedly sexually assaulted by the two men.
Senior police officials told The Indian Express that the call data records and cell phone tower locations of the phones of the two bureaucrats, who have since been suspended, and the 21-year-old woman had matched the sequence of events described by the latter.
Rishi has been suspended and non-bailable warrants have been issued in his name after his bail plea was rejected in Port Blair, as per the report.
(With inputs from The Indian Express and PSU Watch)
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)