Man arrested for sexually harassing minor girl near Coimbatore railway station

Coimbatore: A 29-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday for sexually harassing a 17-year-old girl from Kerala who was visiting the city with her family for a summer vacation.

The arrested has been identified as R Santhosh, 29, from Sundapalayam in Coimbatore district. He was arrested in front of a hotel located opposite the Coimbatore railway station. Police said Santhosh was running a tours and travels firm, and he owned three vehicles. He was drunk at the time of the incident.

On Monday night, he came to the railway station area under the influence of alcohol and standing in front of a hotel located opposite the railway station. The girl and her family were having dinner at the hotel. When they came out of the hotel, Santhosh suddenly sexually harassed the minor girl and fled from the area after she raised an alarm.

The girl's family lodged a complaint with the central all women police inspector Renuga Devi, who registered a case against Santhosh under sections 7 and 8 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act.

He was subsequently arrested on Tuesday and produced before a special court for Pocso case. He was remanded in judicial custody and lodged at the Coimbatore central prison.