A Thane police inspector has been suspended after an internal probe committee found him guilty of sexually harassing his female colleagues.

Thane Commissioner of Police Parambir Singh issued the suspension order of Namdeo Shinde, administrative in-charge of the reserve police staff deployed at the Thane Police commissionerate, on Thursday evening, after receiving a report from the committee probing the sexual harassment charges against the inspector.

A full-fledged inquiry was ordered against Shinde after one of the women constables lodged a written complaint with additional commissioner Makarand Ranade in November 2017. The complaint was forwarded to the ninemember internal committee headed by deputy commissioner Dr Priyanka Narnaware.

During the probe, about10 women personnel came forward and testified against Shinde. They claimed that he had been sexually harassing them for the past several years.

Sources said that according to the committee’s report, submitted earlier this month, Shinde would seek sexual favours from the women employees reporting to him. “If they resisted, he would take revenge by harassing them in various ways during duty hours. The constables complained that apart from touching them inappropriately, he would make them prepare tea in the ante-chamber of his room and then find excuses to brush his hands against them,” said a police officer.

A few women constables also complained that on many occasions, he summoned them inside his room and then ordered his other staffers to lock the door from outside.

Confirming the action against Shinde, Thane CP Singh said, “He has been suspended. An FIR is in place against him. Investigations are on.”

Dr Narnaware had earlier told this newspaper that she has recommended that complaints under IPC Sections 354 (Assault or criminal force against a woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 509 (Word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) be registered against Shinde and he be suspended immediately. She also recommended Shinde’s dismissal from service as he could repeat the offences.