Bowring Institute member arrested for 'indecent' act, released on bail

An office-bearer of Bowring Institute has been arrested by the Cubbon Park police for sending “objectionable” text messages to a woman member.

D P Arun, a member in charge of Billiards and Table Tennis Sub-Committee at the institute, was arrested after a senior lady member of the club made a complaint in this regard. He has been booked under section 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of the IPC, a senior police officer said.

In her complaint, the woman, who is married and has a daughter, claimed that Arun misbehaved with her by sending her “objectionable” messages. He sought to befriend her and wanted certain favours, she added. Arun, however, denied the allegations. During his interrogation, he told the police he had never indulged in such acts. He “just wanted to be friends” with the woman and “never expected anything beyond that”, police quoted him as saying. He was arrested on Tuesday and produced before the court which granted him bail.
Following the incident, Bowring Institute was quick to suspend Arun and decided to take disciplinary action against him. Police said the institute had brought the matter to the notice of its managing committee for further action. A decision regarding Arun’s case will be taken up an emergency meeting, police added.

The institute’s governing body said it treated Arun’s behaviours as “indecent” and took serious note of the text messages he sent to the woman.