Karnataka: JDS gram panchayat president arrested over molestation charges

A Janata Dal (Secular) gram panchayat president was arrested on Friday for molesting a woman in Karnataka's Mandya District.

Chandrahasa, the gram panchayat president of Kesturu in Mandya district was caught on camera attempting to rape a 32-year-old female attendant, who was working as a Group D employee in the panchayat for over six years.

It is reported that the incident occurred around 6 p.m.

When she returned for work the next morning, she told fellow employees who then confronted Chandrahasa, who reportedly claimed that he had only asked her to sweep the floor.

However, upon checking the CCTV footage of the office, they saw that Chandrahasa was attempting to drag the woman while she was attempting to free herself from his grip.

Within minutes of the pushing and pulling the woman, Chandrahasa lifts her and walks behind the camera.

After seeing the footage, the panchayat employees then thrashed him before handing him over to the police.

The police have registered a case against the accused under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).