Man held for assaulting ex-tenant over spurned love proposal in Bengaluru

Bengaluru: Bengaluru police have arrested a 36-year-old man for allegedly attacking his former tenant — a woman — in south Bengaluru after she rejected his love proposal.

Police identified the suspect as Srikanth, a resident of Kamalanagar in west Bengaluru. On April 9, Srikanth allegedly followed the 21-year-old woman and her male friend for about a kilometre, up to the Devegowda petrol station, and slapped her. He was also carrying a knife, police sources told DH.

Investigations revealed that Srikanth knew the woman well as her family had been tenants at his house for almost eight years. Recently, Srikanth proposed to the woman and continued to pursue her despite repeated rejections.

According to police, the woman is a final-year degree student, while Srikanth has been married to another woman for more than six years. When he didn’t stop harassing her, she informed her family, who then alerted his wife and vacated the house, moving to Kurubarahalli.

On April 9, Srikanth spotted the woman again — this time with a male friend. Enraged at seeing her with another man, he followed and intercepted them before slapping both. He was also carrying a knife.

Based on the woman’s complaint, police registered an FIR under the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) dealing with attempted murder and arrested Srikanth.