Without formal complaint, MG Road groper walks free

Despite claims of zero tolerance for sexual crimes, the Central Division Cubbon Park police had  let go of a man who groped a shopper at MG Road on December 11.

DH  reported the molestation that happened near the metro station, but the police cite procedural challenges in arresting the man without a complaint.

The police could only book Thimmegowda, a resident of Veerabhadra Nagar, for eve teasing and creating public nuisance. After slapping a police notice, they allowed him to walk free without even a medical examination.

Thimmegowda was drunk when he groped the woman. She created a ruckus, but did not file a formal complaint with the police.

While the previous police commissioner, Praveen Sood, probed such incidents after taking suo motu cognizance, the incumbent T Suneel Kumar said it is harder to pursue the molestation case without a complaint.

"Even if we take up the case, how can we file a charge sheet without witness?" Kumar said. "Our men have taken up suitable cases against the man and we will bring it to a logical conclusion."

The incident comes nearly a year after the infamous New Year's eve mass molestation on MG Road, which falls within the jurisdiction of the Central Division Cubbon Park police station.

The only hope is that the police  will stand by their word and actually act with zero tolerance towards molesters.