Fake sex assault charge against Sooda teacher vindicated

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, Aug 17, 2014 : Karkala rural police have arrested Felix Steven Noronha, 45, of Kodyadka in Mangalore, for lodging  a fake sexual harassment complaint against a head teacher, out ofan old grudge.

The complaint was sent to the email ID of the office of the chief minister.  It was two weeks ago, the chief minister’s office received acomplaint from a couple, Shibani and Prem, that their daughter studying at government high school at Sooda in Karkala was sexually harassed by the head teacher of the school. The police swung into action and soon detained the accused teacher and started investigation.

But upon visiting the school, police came to know that there was neither such an incident nor any parents by the name of Shibani and Prem. With the aid of cyber police wing in Bangalore, the IP address used for sending the e-mail was traced and sleuths stumbled upon Felix.

The teacher has been released thereafter. ASP Annamalai told Deccan Herald that Felix sent the mail because of an old grudge that he had harbored against the head teacher.  In the wake of the State government’s tough measures on sexual harassment cases following a spate of rape incidents, Felix conceived a plan to trap the teacher with sexual abuse charge.  He had admitted to his wrongdoing during interrogation.  Felix was charged with section 66 A (Punishment for sending offensive messages through communication service, etc) of IT Act and section 22 (Punishment for False Complaint) of POCSO Act.  He has been remanded to judicial custody till August 28.