Revenge motive: Daijiworld photographer accused of sexual harassment
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Mangalore, Aug 15: In what appears to be a case reeking of revenge motive, Daijiworld photojournalist Dayanand Kukkaje, who is well-known to the readers of daijiworld around the world, has been accused of sexually harassing a girl.
Kukkaje has been contributing pictures not only to daijiworld but also to some leading print editions in the city as well as around the nation.
Based on a girl's complaint, the Pandeshwar police on Wednesday August 14 took Daya into custody.
However, Daya has clearly denied the allegation and said that the girl who filed the complaint is not even known to him. He has said that it is a consipiracy by his rivals to defame his name and spoil his reputation.
"I have always been under threat from fellow photographers who could not bear to see my success in the field. But I have been doing my work sincerely with sheer hard work and comittment, and gained appreciation from people around the world. I will fight back, as I know I am innocent," he told the reporters in the police station.
Moreover, it is to be noted that the police arrived at around 9 pm to take him into custody, and they were reportedly accompanied by two men and woman photographers, all of them his rivals.
"The timing of the arrest itself shows the motive behind this. Tomorrow being Independence Day is a government holiday. I can apply for bail only on Friday," he said.
The girl stated in her complaint that Daya got friendly with her over Facebook and later took advantage of her in his flat. Daya however has clearly said that he has not done any such thing.
Of late, there have been a number of instances where the law on rape has been grossly misused for vicious motives. If the allegations are finally proved false, as Daya himself believes, a defamation case against those responsible would not be ruled out.
It is learnt that Dayanand Kukkaje's lawyer is preparing to file a counter-case on a lady photographer who has been reportedly sending abusive messages, emails and personally passing telephone messages against him.