Sexual assault case accused held at airport in Mumbai

A 41-year-old man, who sexually assaulted a young woman in January this year and fled abroad, was arrested by the immigration officials at Mumbai airport when he landed on Monday night. Immigration officials stopped him following the Look-out Circular (LoC) issued by the Chennai city police against him.

According to police, a 23-year-old woman from Puducherry was residing at a women’s hostel in Thiruvanmiyur and was working at a private company in Besant Nagar. On the morning of January 30, while she was walking along Damodharapuram Main Road, Besant Nagar, to go to work, a man riding a black two-wheeler followed her and stopped the vehicle in front of her. He allegedly asked her to get on the vehicle, stating that he would drop her wherever she wanted to go.

When the woman questioned him and attempted to leave the spot, the man allegedly sexually assaulted her and fled on his two-wheeler. Based on the complaint lodged by the victim at the Adyar All Women Police Station, a case was registered.

The police investigation disclosed that the accused was Gopal, 41, and that he had gone abroad for work after the offence. A Look Out Circular (LOC) was issued with his details and circulated to airports, and a final report was filed before the court.

While police were searching for the accused, immigration officials at Mumbai airport informed that Gopal had arrived from China by flight on December 21. Acting on this information, a police team from Sastri Nagar Police Station proceeded to Mumbai airport and, following due legal procedures, arrested the accused, a resident of Royapuram and brought him to Chennai.

After interrogation, the accused was remanded to judicial custody as per court orders.