This Article is From Jul 02, 2010

Kodai school founder surrenders in sex harassment case

Kodai school founder surrenders in sex harassment case
Dindigul: A 76-year-old man accused of sexually harassing a girl student in a Kodaikanal school hostel, has surrendered.  

The father of the class 9 Bhutanese girl student had filed a case against the school administrator ML Bright under Sec 354 (outraging modesty of woman by assaulting or using criminal force) and Sec 4 of Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act 1998.

The 14-year-old girl - who was staying along with 17 others at Bright's house, which had been converted into a hostel - had accused him of sexually harassing her on June 3. The case was filed on June 18 and Bright had been absconding since then.

Bright's anticipatory bail application will come up for hearing on July 5 before the Madras High Court bench in Dindigul.

In his petition in the court, Bright said the girl was paying Rs 500 per month as hostel fees but as she did not pay the amount for three months, she was accommodated in the "free hostel".  The student did not agree to shift and her guardian sought a Transfer Certificate on June 16 and lodged a police complaint two days later alleging he misbehaved with the girl, Bright said.

The principal of the public school, Sheefa Paul, was arrested earlier on Friday, in connection with the case.

Paul was produced before a court which remanded her to 15 days judicial custody. After her arrest, she had complained of chest pain and was taken to a doctor, who certified that she was in 'good health', the police said. (With PTI inputs)
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