Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Jan 14: The Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement (DCRE) police have arrested the managing director of a private television channel for allegedly sexually harassing and cheating a woman who had approached him seeking justice after being cheated by her husband.

The arrested accused has been identified as Mohammed Haneef (33), a resident of Nayandahalli and managing director of a private channel named Karunadu.

Police said the accused allegedly collected Rs 16 lac from a 43-year-old woman from BTM Layout by assuring her that he would help resolve her family dispute. He is also accused of sexually harassing her and abusing her with caste-based remarks when she demanded the money back.

A case was initially registered at Byatarayanapura police station. As charges under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act were invoked, the case was transferred to the DCRE police, who later arrested the accused.

The victim is married and has two children. In 2016, the couple had filed for divorce following a family dispute. They were jointly running a private school, which the woman alleged was sold by her husband without informing her.

When she decided to approach the media regarding the issue, she came into contact with the accused through an individual named Ashok. The accused later called her to the Karunadu channel office at Kodigehalli, introduced himself as the channel’s managing director and claimed that he was also the chairman of an NGO named Citizen Labour Welfare and Anti-Corruption Committee. He allegedly assured her that he would resolve such cases by bringing them to the notice of the concerned authorities.

Police said the two later became acquainted and the accused appointed the woman as the state president of his NGO.

Taking advantage of her situation, the accused allegedly collected money from her in instalments, citing financial needs. He also reportedly claimed that rituals conducted by spiritual guides from Kerala were required to resolve her school-related dispute and arranged pujas for the same.

The victim further alleged that during a visit to the accused’s residence, he mixed an intoxicant in her tea, spoke inappropriately and touched her private parts. She also accused him of misbehaving with her at his Nayandahalli office. When she questioned his conduct, he allegedly pressured her to marry him and subjected her to physical and mental harassment after she refused.

DCRE superintendent of police Kashi and his team carried out the arrest and are continuing further investigation.