Photographer arrested on complaint of sexual harassment

Photographer arrested on complaint of sexual harassment

mangaloretoday.com

Mangalore, Aug 15:  A photographer working for a website in Mangalore has been arrested on charges of sexual harassment by the Pandeshwar police based on a girl’s complaint on Wednesday August 14, 2013. The website claimed that he was framed with false accusation and revenge. They also claim that Dayanand Kukkaje, their staff photographer is innocent and the accusation is false and charged with ulterior motive.

 

Dayanand has denied the allegation and said that the girl who filed the complaint is not even known to him. He has said that it is a consipiracy by his rivals to defame his name and spoil his reputation.

“I have been under threat from a photojournalist who could not bear to see my success in the field. But I have been doing my work sincerely with sheer hard work and commitment and gained appreciation from people around the world. I will fight back as I am innocent," he told the reporters in the police station.

Moreover, it is to be noted that the police arrived at around 9 pm to take him into custody, and they were reportedly accompanied by two photographers, all of them were his rivals. "The timing of the arrest itself shows the motive behind this as the next day being Independence Day which is a government holiday. I can apply for bail only on Friday," he said.

The girl stated in her complaint that Dayanand got friendly with her on Facebook and later took advantage of her friendship in his flat. Dayanand however said that he has not done any such thing.