3 Kerala cops booked for harassing woman

BENGALURU: Three Kerala police personnel have been booked for allegedly molesting a 22-year-old woman working as a receptionist with a private firm in Victoria Layout, Viveknagar.
The incident allegedly happened on May 22 and the woman filed a complaint with Viveknagar police on June 1.

Police said the three cops from Kerala Crime Branch-Crime Investigation Department's (CB-CID), Thodupuzha wing, had visited the firm's office to question proprietor Binny Thomas in connection with a cheating case.

The team, led by sub-inspector Arun Narayana, entered the premises around 10.30am when the receptionist and some other employees were present in the office. According to the woman, the trio told her they wanted to meet Thomas. She asked them to wait till 11.30am when he was expected to arrive.

'Cops pounced on me'

"I called my boss from the office landline but the trio immediately pounced on me. They held my hands and pushed me from my chair and rushed towards my boss's cabin. The other staffers cordoned off the cabin and prevented them from entering. My hands were aching but they threatened me," she said in her complaint.

Viveknagar police said they have registered a case against the trio for allegedly misbehaving with the receptionist at her office.

Accused to be summoned

Police said they will summon the accused to record their statements to know what exactly transpired in the office. The Kerala police personnel could have spoken to the person they wanted to question or could have sought assistance from local cops if they faced any problem, Viveknagar police said.

"We have learnt the three cops visited Thomas's office to question him about a cheating case (Rs 30 lakh) registered in Kerala. We will close the case if we find they are not at fault," a police officer said.

The case has been registered under IPC sections 354A (sexual harassment), 506 (criminal intimidation), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention).