Hescom engineer held for attempting to rape colleague

The executive engineer in the Belagavi Rural division of Hubli Electricity Supply Company (Hescom), who was accused of attempting to sexually abuse his colleague, has been arrested by the police after the woman filed a fresh complaint on Tuesday.

B Majagi was arrested at his office and later produced before the court which sent him to jail.

The woman, a 27-year-old assistant engineer in the Hescom sub-division, had attempted suicide by consuming an overdose of sleeping pills on January 29.

She left a suicide note, blaming Majagi for driving her to the verge of suicide. Timely treatment, however, ensured she survived.

In a fresh complaint at the at Malmaruti police station, she accused Majagi of transferring her subordinate staff members. She said she attempted suicide as the harassment had become “unbearable”.

The woman also accused the police of “dillydallying” in arresting the suspect though she had filed two complaints. She also said the police would be “responsible for any untoward consequences”.

Besides Majagi, the woman accused store keeper M T Takkalagi and lineman Maruti Doddamani of attempting to sexually abuse her at the Hescom Employees’ Association Building on November 13.

The main suspect was arrested and released on bail a day later. The complainant took objection to his release and approached Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.