MUMBAI: Maharashtra last year achieved the dubious distinction of recording the most number of cases of rape and assault on women among all Indian states .Union minister of women and child development Maneka Gandhi told the Lok Sabha that the number of cases registered for rape and assault on women with intent to outrage modesty has shown an increasing trend. The highest number of such cases were in Maharashtra (13,827), followed by Madhya Pradesh (13,323) and Andhra Pradesh (13,267) for 2014.Gandhi said safety of women in the country is of utmost priority for the government. However, a s senior bureaucrat from the state said that despite the claims of the law-enforcing agencies, officials at police stations have on several occasions displayed a lack of seriousness in dealing with crimes against women. “We need more women officials in police stations. In fact, Maharashtra is the only state which does not have an all-women police station,’’ he said. He also said that offices, both in private and public sectors, do not have grievances cells exclusively for women.