M A I N   N E W S

HCS officer convicted of rape, fraud sacked
Pradeep Sharma/TNS

Chandigarh, March 4
The Haryana Government has dismissed senior Haryana Civil Services (HCS) officer Jeet Singh Mehra from service on charges of moral turpitude and fraud.

Mehra, convicted of rape and forgery by a Panipat court on November 16, 2010, was dismissed from service by invoking provisions of Article 311(2) of the Indian Constitution, which empower the authority to remove a person without holding an inquiry, an order by Haryana Chief Secretary PK Choudhery said.

“It can be concluded that the conduct of Mehra, which led to his conviction for involvement of offences under moral turpitude, is such to render his further retention in public service undesirable. The employee was convicted by a competent court of law and, hence, there will be no necessity to hold another inquiry,” Choudhery’s order dated February 28 said.

Jeet Singh Mehra came in contact with a girl while posted as SDO (Civil) at Guhla (Kaithal) in 2003-04 and allegedly expressed an intention to marry her. He solemnised a “sham” court marriage with her on February 19, 2004. The “couple” then started living as husband and wife and allegedly developed physical relations. This despite the fact that he was allegedly already married and had a daughter.

In October 2004, Mehra allegedly backtracked on “marriage” with her and started ill-treating the girl, who lodged a complaint against him. A case under sections 376, 420, 467, 468, 471 and 506 of the IPC was registered against Mehra, then posted as City Magistrate, Panipat, on November 4, 2004. Consequent upon his arrest on October 25, 2005, he was placed under suspension. On November 11, 2010, Panipat Additional Session Judge CL Mohal convicted Mehra under sections 376 and 420 of the IPC and sentenced him to seven years and a fine of Rs 10,000. The officer moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court for relief.

While the high court suspended the substantive sentence awarded to the officer, it did not stay his conviction, prompting the Hooda government to dismiss him from service.

the case files

• Feb 19, 2004: HCS officer Jeet Singh Mehra solemnises “sham” marriage with a girl
• Oct 2004: Mehra backtracks on the court marriage
• Nov 4: Girl registers case against Mehra
• Oct 25, 2005: Officer arrested; suspended
• Nov 16, 2010: Panipat court convicts Mehra; he moves HC
• April 25, 2011: HC refuses to stay his conviction
• Feb 28, 2013: Haryana Govt dismisses Mehra