THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Museum police on Saturday, have arrested a 31-year-old advocate on charges of physically harassing his female friend in a moving car.
The police identified the accused as Ashok, a resident of Pattoor.
He is an advocate practising at the district court at Vanchiyoor.
He is the son of Madhu, who was a member of the personal staff of former minister Kadakampally Surendran.
According to the police, a 25-year-old woman is the complainant in the case.
She is working in a firm at Technopark and was staying in a rented house in the city.
The incident related to the case took place on Friday around 8pm.
Both the accused and complainant were friends.
As agreed earlier, the accused picked her up in his car from Law College junction.
Inside the car, they broke into an argument during which Ashok went out of control and physically harassed her.
Hearing her screams, other motorists intercepted the car and caught the accused.
Soon, the police were summoned to the spot.
The police recorded the statement of the woman and booked the accused under sections 354 (assault or use of criminal force intended to outrage the modesty of woman), 342 (wrongful confinement) and 323 (causing hurt) of the IPC.
The local magistrate granted him bail when he was produced before the court following the arrest on Saturday.
The police also said the accused was under the influence of alcohol when he committed the alleged crime.
(The victim’s identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme Court directives on cases related to sexual assault)