Two arrested for outraging modesty of US woman

Chennai, Jun 2 (UNI) Police today arrested two people on charges of outraging the modesty of a 26-year-old US woman and robbing her mobile phone and camera here four days ago Police sources said the duo Joseph Mathew (35), a businessman, and his friend Saji John (36) were arrested based on a complaint from the US woman, who had drinks with them at a star hotel on May 29.

The duo, after preliminary investigations, were remanded in judicial custody.

Both Joseph and Saji were said to be friends of the US woman, who was working as a teacher in a private school. Her husband was an IT software professional.

After the couple reportedly had dinner in a five-star hotel, the husband left for home and promised to pick up his wife later.

Meanwhile, the woman, had some drinks in the hotel bar with Joseph and Saji. When she decided to leave around 0100 hrs, Joseph promised to drop her at home.

The car dropped all the three at a residence in Annanagar area after which she could not recollect what had happened to her.

A couple of hours later, two people found her walking in the area with bruises on her face. They helped her get back home. After this, she went for a medical check up at a private hospital.

Medical examinations revealed that she was not raped, but she suspected that she could have been molested. She told the police that she could not remember what happened at the house in Annanagar. But she feared that Joseph might have taken pictures of her in compromising positions.

She preferred a complaint to the US Consulate here, which in turn forwarded it to the Chennai City Police Commissionerate.

Police registered cases against Joseph and Saji under various Sections of the IPC including 354 (assault or criminal force oneself on a woman with the intention of outraging her modesty) and Sec 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), and launched a manhunt to nab the duo.

Joseph, who was absconding for the last two days, was arrested by a special team of the city police.

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