THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A junior health inspector employed at the main office of Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation was arrested by Museum Police on Sunday on charges of outraging the modesty of a woman who worked as a contingent cleaning staff.
Aji R, 40, a resident of Thirumala was arrested following the complaint of a 26-year-old woman who stays at Oolampara.
The incident happened on Saturday at the garage office of city corporation.
The complainant along with another woman worker who were deployed at secretariat health circle were asked to report for duty at the main office.
According to the complainant, Aji R was drunk and he reportedly shouted at her for turning up late.
He reportedly forcibly held her hand in a fit of anger and according to her complaint he tried to solicit sexual favours from her.
The woman in her complaint said that she walked out of the office crying and that there were eyewitnesses to the incident.
She lodged a complaint against the health official with City corporation secretary who in turn forwarded the complaint to Museum police and the Internal complaints committee.
Aji was placed under suspension with immediate effect.
An internal probe team has been constituted to look into the matter.
The police had visited corporation office on Saturday and collected statement from the complainant.
Aji was summoned to office on Sunday and his arrest was recorded by night.
The police have charged Aji with section 354 of IPC.
(The victim’s identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme Court directives on cases related to sexual assault)