Puttur: A woman has alleged that she was subjected to sexual harassment by an auto-rickshaw driver who allegedly diverted from his route and took her to Kuriya while she was travelling to Puttur for work on Wednesday morning.
According to the complaint filed with the police, the woman, a resident within the jurisdiction of Puttur Rural police station, had left home in the morning for work and boarded an auto-rickshaw bearing registration number KA21B2011.
The vehicle was allegedly driven by Balakrishna, who was known to the woman.
Driver allegedly diverted auto to Kuriya
The woman alleged that while travelling towards Puttur, the driver changed the route and took the auto-rickshaw towards Kuriya.
According to her complaint, the driver stopped the vehicle after reaching Kuriya and allegedly behaved inappropriately towards her and subjected her to sexual harassment.
Following the incident, the woman approached the Puttur Rural police and lodged a complaint detailing the alleged incident and identifying the auto-rickshaw and its driver.
Police subsequently registered a case and initiated an investigation into the allegations.
Case registered under BNS sections
Puttur Rural police station registered a case under Sections 74, 75 and 64 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The case has been registered as Crime No. 117/2026.
The provisions invoked in the case relate to offences involving assault or criminal force against a woman with intent to outrage her modesty, sexual harassment and rape.
The registration of the case followed the woman’s complaint regarding the alleged conduct of the auto-rickshaw driver.
Accused taken into custody
Following the complaint, Puttur Rural police traced and took accused Balakrishna into custody near Santyar-Parpunja.
He was subsequently brought to the police station for questioning in connection with the case.
Police said the accused is being questioned as part of the investigation. Further legal action will be taken based on the findings of the investigation and applicable legal procedures.
The police are continuing their inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the alleged incident, including the route taken by the auto-rickshaw and the events that allegedly occurred at Kuriya.