Journo Samant applies for anticipatory bail in sexual harassment case
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 26 September 2015 21:06 IST
Rupesh Samant, a senior journalist facing charges of sexual harassment from three women journalists, has applied for anticipatory bail.
His bail application would come up for hearing on Monday afternoon before the Panaji district and sessions court.
The Women’s police station had sent him summons twice to appear before the investigating agency since the first FIR was filed on 24 September.
Instead, his lawyer approached the police today, assuring that he would appear before the police shortly.
A senior police officer has said the police would oppose the anticipatory bail, seeking his custody.
Altogether three women journalists, working at the local cable TV channel Samant looks after, have filed complaints of sexual harassment.
The police have filed a case against Samant under sections 354, 354 A, 354 D and 509 of Indian Penal Code.
The charges include insulting modesty of a woman through physical act, sending lewd messages on mobile, making sexually coloured remarks and making physical advances involving unwelcome and explicit sexual overtures.
Samant, the Goa bureau chief of Press Trust of India, also anchors programmes on a local cable TV channel.
Shame on Rupesh Samant. He should be immediately put behind bars.