Bengaluru: A 29-year-old man from Haryana was arrested for allegedly sexually harassing a 34-year-old sports nutritionist and freelance fitness professional for nearly a year.The accused, Sudhir Kumar, a resident of Rewari district, arrived in Bengaluru on Jan 12 and visited a gym in Kathriguppe, Banashankari, where the nutritionist, a native of Haryana, regularly works out. He inquired about her whereabouts, prompting her to lodge a complaint with South Women police station.
According to a senior officer, Sudhir, who is unemployed, lives near the complainant’s aunt’s residence and first noticed her during one of her visits. He began following her Instagram account and sent inappropriate messages. Although she blocked him, he obtained her mobile number through her aunt and continued harassing her via messages.Sudhir visited her aunt’s house on May 10 last year and started harassing her. She warned him not to trouble her or her family. On the same day, he sent her a series of abusive messages, threatened her, and told her that he would come to Bengaluru to meet her.He allegedly sent sexually explicit messages on multiple occasions between Oct 24 and Dec 20 last year to her Instagram account. Though she blocked him, he continued to contact her using multiple fake or alternate social media accounts, sending sexually explicit messages, and making offensive gestures. She alleged that on Jan 12 at1 pm, the accused inquired about her whereabouts through her gym mates, causing her considerable distress. Citing continuous harassment, she said it had resulted in severe mental trauma, reputational damage, and fear for her safety, and sought legal action against Sudhir.After a case was registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 75 (sexual harassment), 78 (stalking) and 79 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) on Jan 14, police nabbed Sudhir. He was produced before the court and was remanded to judicial custody at Central Prison, Parappana Agrahara. The woman posted a video about the harassment on her Instagram account and mentioned that she approached the deputy commissioner of police (South) with the help of an NGO, and the accused was arrested before he left Bengaluru.
