German research scholar alleges molestation by landlord in Delhi

A German research scholar has accused her landlord of molesting her at his home in south Delhi's Hauz Khas area.

According to an email complaint by the woman, the incident took place in November when she had gone to her landlord's house to clear outstanding bills before returning home.

The woman, in her 20s, sent an email to the Delhi Commission For Women (DCW) on December 5 after she went back.

The complaint was forwarded to Delhi Police in mid-December. A case was registered on December 27 under sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the IPC, a senior police officer said.

The woman wrote that she had visited her landlord's house on November 30 when he started talking about his personal life and his marital problems, which made her uncomfortable,  the officer said.

Then the accused tried to force himself on her but she managed to escape after the landlord's son returned home, he said.

The woman wrote in her complaint that she informed her friends about the incident and even sought help from them when the accused came to meet her, police said.

She didn't file a complaint then because she was scared and wasn't aware about the laws here, they added.

Police have sent her a couple of emails requesting her to join the probe.

"We have written an email to the victim requesting her to come to India and record her statement before the magistrate for further investigation in the case. A reminder mail was also dropped today but the woman has not responded yet. We are hopeful that she will come to India to record her statement," the police officer said.

The accused is married with two kids.

The incident comes months after a US woman was allegedly raped by five men at a five-star hotel in Connaught Place in April this year. She had come down to India to join the probe last month.