Daijiworld Media Network – Moodbidri
Moodbidri, Jan 7: A local court at Moodbidri has convicted the owner of a shoe shop in Kinnigoli in connection with a sexual harassment case involving a woman customer, and sentenced him to three years of imprisonment along with a fine.
The incident occurred on December 12, 2021, when a woman visited a shoe shop named Shoe Fashion at Kinnigoli to purchase footwear. At around 12.20 pm, the shop owner, identified as Sanjuddeen, allegedly lured the woman into a compartment inside the shop on the pretext of showing her footwear.
The accused is alleged to have outraged her modesty and thereby subjecting her to sexual harassment. Based on the complaint filed by the aggrieved woman, Mulki police registered a case in Crime No. 136/2021 under Sections 342, 354(A), and 354(B) of the Indian Penal Code.
The investigation was carried out under the guidance of the then police inspector K Kusumadhar, with PSI Vinayak Thoragal arresting the accused and completing the probe. A charge sheet was subsequently filed against the accused.
The case was tried at the court of the senior civil judge and JMFC, Moodbidri. After hearing the matter, the presiding judge, Madhuakar P Bhagavath, on January 6, held the accused Sanjuddeen, a resident of Jodubailu, Golijar Road, Talipadi village, Kinnigoli, guilty of the charges.
The court sentenced the accused to three years of imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 10,500. The investigation and submission of the charge sheet were handled by PSI Vinayak Thoragal, with assistance from ASI Sanjeev A P.
Government prosecutor Netravati Kotian represented the state and played a key role in securing the conviction in the case.