Mangaluru: Dakshina Kannada women’s police have registered a case against a man under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for allegedly sexually harassing a minor girl while offering to drop her home.
The accused has been identified as Addu Padil.
Incident reported after a programme
According to a complaint filed by the girl’s mother, the incident allegedly occurred on the night of Sunday, August 23.
The accused had reportedly offered to drop the minor girl home on his two-wheeler after she attended a programme. The complaint alleges that the man sexually harassed the girl while they were travelling.
Following the complaint, the women’s police initiated an investigation and registered an FIR.
Case registered under BNS and POCSO
The case has been registered as Crime No. 46/2026 under Section 75 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, along with Sections 8 and 12 of the POCSO Act.
The POCSO Act provides special legal protection to children against sexual offences and prescribes procedures for dealing with such cases.
Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the alleged incident and are expected to record statements and gather other relevant evidence as part of the probe.
The allegations against the accused are yet to be established through the legal process. The identity of the minor has not been disclosed in accordance with laws protecting children involved in sexual-offence cases.
The case has once again highlighted the importance of ensuring the safety of minors while travelling, particularly when they depend on adults for transportation after public programmes or gatherings.