Nagaland suspends IAS officer over sexual harassment charges, SIT begins probe

The Nagaland government has suspended senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Reny Wilfred following the initiation of a criminal investigation into allegations of sexual harassment.

According to an official order issued by Chief Secretary J Alam on May 21, Wilfred, who was serving as secretary in the state’s Finance Department, has been suspended with effect from the same date.

“Therefore, the government of Nagaland has placed Reny Wilfred, IAS, under suspension w.e.f. 21.05.2025 vide Order No.PAR-A/06/2021-AIS, dated 21.05.2025,” the order stated.

The suspension follows a complaint filed by the Nagaland State Commission for Women (NSCW), which led to a police investigation and the registration of a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) related to sexual harassment and outraging the modesty of women.

The complaint was lodged with the state police headquarters earlier this year, and a First Information Report (FIR) was subsequently filed in April.

The officer, however, has denied the charges, stating in April that he believed the complaint was filed with bias and claiming that he possessed evidence suggesting that employees were “forced or coerced” into making the allegations.

He said this evidence would be presented in court.

In addition to the current investigation, Wilfred is also facing trial in a separate case of alleged sexual abuse involving two minor girls in Noklak district, where he had previously served as deputy commissioner between 2020 and 2021.

The NSCW had earlier met with several women working under Wilfred at the Investment and Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN), where he held additional charge as Joint Secretary.

Following these interactions in February, the commission forwarded the complaints to police. The state government relieved Wilfred of his IDAN responsibilities on April 4, after which a special investigation team (SIT) was constituted to probe the matter further.