Sexual harassment: HC denies bail to accused

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court has dismissed the bail application submitted by a 60-year-old man accused of sexually harassing minor girls.The bail application was submitted by Abdul Kalam, Kilikolloor, Kollam. The prosecution case is that Kalam, who is running a shop near a school abused three girls of standard six by offering them sweets. The matter came to the notice of the school authorities when the mother of one of the three girls approached them with a complaint.Her complaint was that her daughter was reaching home late from school. On inquiry, it was found that the girl used to bunk classes in the afternoon sessions.The girl disclosed about the harassment when a counsellor from the social welfare department talked to her. Following this, Kalam was arrested by Eravipuram police on charges of rape under IPC 376 and unnatural offences under IPC 377. Later charges under SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities ) Act were also imposed on him. The accused does not deserve bail, the court said.