Odisha: Two arrested in sexual assault case in Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar: The Commissionerate Police has arrested two persons for allegedly sexually assaulting a 25-year-old woman on the pretext of offering massage at a beauty parlour in Jagamara under Khandagiri police limits in Odisha’s state capital Bhubaneswar.
The accused persons were identified as Rabindra Mohanty, 50, the parlour owner and a resident of Kolathia under Bharatpur police limits, and Santosh Kumar Barik, 52, an employee of the parlour and a resident of Ragadipada village under Badamba police station in Cuttack district, officials said on Tuesday.
Police sources revealed that the victim, who has completed professional training in beauty and cosmetology, was looking for a job. She had informed acquaintances that she was seeking employment at a beauty parlour in Bhubaneswar.
After receiving information about a vacancy from an acquaintance, the victim reportedly visited a unisex beauty parlour in Jagamara.
The accused parlour owner allegedly promised her a job with a lucrative salary.
Trusting the owner’s assurances of employment, the woman reportedly visited the beauty parlour a couple of days ago.
However, the woman alleged that the parlour owner, Mohanty, along with an employee, Barik, sexually assaulted her inside the premises.
The Police sources also revealed that following the incident, the victim woman lodged a complaint at the Khandagiri police station on Sunday night.
Acting on the victim’s complaint, the police registered a case under Section 70(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and launched an investigation.
A police team, assisted by a scientific team, conducted an investigation at the parlour and collected evidence from the spot.
Police examined the CCTV footage and seized several objectionable materials from the premises.
The parlour has reportedly been sealed as part of the investigation.
The policemen on Tuesday arrested the accused duo on Tuesday. They were later produced before the court that sent them to judicial custody after rejecting their bail pleas.