A woman who had approached the police to file a case of harassment and ill-treatment against her husband, was instead sexually harassed by the police officer whom she had approached. He allegedly told her to forget about filing a case and instead started sending her lewd text messages and repeatedly called her on the phone. The accused, assistant sub-inspector Ramnath Pawale was suspended on Saturday, and arrested on Sunday.

Pawale is attached to the Chikali police station and a case of molestation was registered there on Saturday. Pimpri Chinchwad police commissioner R K Padmanaman has initiated stringent action. According to the police, "On October 11, the woman along with his minor son had approached the police chowky around 11 pm to seek help against her husband who used to repeatedly beat her up. It was late and Pawale was at the police chowky. However, instead of registering her complaint, Pawale told her to go home."