Sexual assault complaint against UoM council member

When all her efforts to get justice from the police went in vain, a woman on Wednesday  lodged a complaint with the Chairperson of State Women’s Commission Manjula Manasa accusing her husband -- incumbent member of Academic Council of the University of Mysore E C Ningaraj of sexual assault, besides trying to murder her among several other charges.

Padmini, aged 35 years, and a resident of Gollageri, Chamaraja Mohalla has alleged that Ningaraj, chief librarian at a reputed central institute in the city, had swindled Rs 70 lakh and gold ornaments from her. Demanding stringent action against him, Padmini said that Ningaraj, who married her at a temple five years ago, tried to get rid of her later, after securing Rs 70 lakh from her. Padmini a native of Tumkur had shifted to Mysore a few years ago, along with her parents. In the later days she lost her parents. Padmini said that all she had at that time was Rs 70 lakh cash, which she acquired after disposing immovable properties of her ancestral house. 

Aborted five times

Padmini said that Ningaraj who learnt about her lonely life, had wooed and married her at a temple. “However, just a few days after the marriage, I learnt about his first wife,” she added.

Padmini alleged that eyeing the huge cash in hand, Ningaraj spiked her milk with drugs, which had lead to the termination of pregnancy. Padmini produced medical reports to substantiate her claims.

Earlier, when Ningaraj destroyed all the marriage related evidences, Padmini forced him to tie the  knot again at a temple in the city.

Police delay   

Padmini also brought to the notice of Manjula Manasa that when she lodged a complaint at the Women’s Police Station, a police constable called Geetha had tried to broker a truce.  Ningaraj who is also associated with BJP had previously tried to influence the party colleague and the then chairperson of the Women’s Commission (Manjula) when Padmini had made an attempt to get justice.

Following this allegation, Manasa, took the police sub-inspector in the Women’s Station to task for showing laxity in responding to her calls.

Accompanied by Padmini, she went to the station to enquire about the status of the latter’s complaint against her husband Ningaraj. SI Lolakshi clarified that the case comes under the purview of jurisdictional Lakshmipuram police station. A visibly charged Manasa took the police officer to task for not responding to her calls on her cellphone.

Though the officer maintained that she was not aware of her cell number, Manasa took her to task again for not having her number. Unfazed, the officer said she was busy counselling the victims at that time.