Kshitij Mishra, an assistant director at the Export Inspection Agency in Chennai, has been accused of rape by a former research scientist

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has suspended a senior official after a woman scientist levelled allegations of rape and sexual harassment against him.

Kshitij Mishra, an assistant director at the Export Inspection Agency in Chennai, has been accused of rape by a former research scientist of Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) based in Delhi.

The Export Inspection Agency comes under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

The scientist has alleged that Mishra has been raping, blackmailing and harassing her since 2009.

“Mishra has cheated me on the pretext of marriage. He made objectionable videos of mine. He has also hidden the truth that he is already married and has two children,” she said.

The woman alleged Mishra had warned her that he would upload the videos if she did not allow him to have a sexual relationship with her.

She also alleged that Mishra had also promised her a government job.

“I lodged a rape case at Ranjeet Nagar Police Station in New Delhi on February 20, 2015,” the woman scientist said.

"The FIR was later transferred to Ghaziabad.

"The police action forced Mishra to surrender in a Ghaziabad court on May 7, 2015. The judge refused the interim bail application though he had sought for it.

"He was later sent to judicial custody till May 11, 2015, after which he secured bail from a session’s court."

The complainant later reached out to higher authorities seeking tougher action.

“I have written to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry,” she said.

When contacted, Dr. S.K. Saxena, director of Export Inspection Council of India, said: “The woman has approached us with documentary proof.

"I have all the details and if the case is genuine, we will surely help her.”

Saxena also said an inquiry into the matter has been initiated.

“The officer is posted in Chennai. Yet if he is found guilty, action will be taken against him,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mishra told Mail Today that the woman complainant had been blackmailing him for the past seven years.