Pune, Oct 26: A 30-year-old man has been taken into custody for allegedly molesting an 18-year-old woman in Pune's Katraj area, police said on Monday. The accused was allegedly beaten up by local residents after the woman raised an alarm, drawing people to the spot, IANS reported.
Source: IANS via Hi India
Police identified the accused as Jitu Kishorilal Saroj, a native of Pratapgarh district in Uttar Pradesh who lives in a rented house in the Vidyanagar area along Katraj-Kondhwa Road. According to police, the incident took place on October 24 at around 6.30 p.m. in front of Samarth Dairy, near Sukhsagarnagar, where the woman was waiting for a friend.
Source: IANS via Hi India
The man allegedly touched the woman inappropriately, pulled at her shirt and tried to lift her, police said. She raised an alarm; her friend pushed the accused away, and the friend's aunt and another man, Vishnu More, reached the spot to help. During the struggle the accused allegedly threw More's mobile phone to the ground, damaging it. Hearing her cries, residents gathered, caught the accused and allegedly thrashed him before police arrived and took him into custody.
Source: Nation Press
Senior Police Inspector Sudarshan Gaikwad of Bharati Vidyapeeth police station confirmed the incident to IANS and said the accused lived in the same locality. A case has been registered under Sections 76 and 324(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita — assault or criminal force against a woman with intent to disrobe, and mischief causing damage — according to Nation Press.
Source: Nation Press
Police said they had received information from the accused's brother suggesting similar behaviour when he lived in Uttar Pradesh, but stressed that this requires further verification and has not been established. The allegations in the Katraj case remain allegations at this stage, and the investigation is continuing.
Source: Nation Press