Man conducting bhajan arrested for molesting girl

Guruvayoor (Ker): A 39-year-old man, who used to conduct bhajan classes, was today arrested from his residence here after he allegedly tried to molest a 14-year-old girl.

Police said the girl’s mother was also arrested in connection with the case.

The arrests were on the basis of a complaint filed by the girl, they said.

The accused, Pradeep Menon, tried to embrace the girl after forcing her to drink beer, police said.

The incident occurred in April when the girl along with her mother had come from Kozhikode to attend the bhajan sessions.

Charges were framed against Menon and the girl’s mother under IPC section 354 (assault or use of force on a woman with an intent to outrage her modesty) and sections 7 and 8 of the Protection of Children against Sexual Offences Act, 2012.

They were produced before the Judicial First Class Magistrate court at Chavakad today and remanded to 14 days judicial custody.