Accused gets 3-year jail for harassing girl on Doha-Bengaluru flight

Published: 7 September 2024

NT Bureau
Doha

An Indian passenger was sentenced to three years in prison by a special court in Bengaluru for sexually harassing a 14-year-old girl on a Doha-Bengaluru flight, The Times of India reported.

The accused was also fined Rs 10,000 and intends to appeal the conviction.

The girl deposed before a special court in the city through video conference from abroad.

The accused, Amawasai Murugesan, 51, from Tamil Nadu, was working as a public relations officer with a private firm in Doha, and was convicted by special judge Saraswathi KN on Tuesday.

The judge sent him to three years’ imprisonment and fined him Rs 10,000.

“On the morning of June 27, 2023, the girl’s father filed a complaint with Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) police, alleging Murugesan, who was sitting next to his daughter during their flight from Doha to Bengaluru, inappropriately touched the child. The accused had been booked under Pocso Act,” the TOI report said.

Public prosecutor A Chandrakala said Murugesan had consumed alcohol and touched the girl inappropriately under the pretext of offering food to her.

“The girl’s mother had objected to Murugesan’s behaviour. The matter was brought to the notice of crew members, who said Murugesan as an unruly passenger and changed his seat. He was handed over to police soon after the flight landed at KIA,” Chandrakala said.

According to the public prosecutor, the girl and her parents were travelling to the city for a month-long vacation, and after obtaining permission from the court to appear through video conference, they flew back to the foreign country.

Murugesan was released on bail after spending nearly two months in the judicial custody of
Bengaluru Central Prison. Public prosecutor said Murugesan was present in the court and was granted bail to appeal against his conviction.