Pune Man Arrested for Allegedly Molesting 18-Year-Old Woman; Assaulted by Local

A 30-year-old man has been taken into custody in Pune after allegedly molesting an 18-year-old woman and attempting to lift her off the ground in the Katraj area. The accused was reportedly beaten by local residents after the woman raised an alarm, prompting people nearby to intervene, police said on Monday.

The accused has been identified as Jitu Kishorilal Saroj, a native of Pratapgarh district in Uttar Pradesh. He is currently residing in a rented house in Vidyanagar, along Katraj-Kondhwa Road, according to the police.

## Woman Raises Alarm as Bystanders Intervene

The incident allegedly took place around 6.30 p.m. on October 24 outside Samarth Dairy, near Sukhsagarnagar. The woman had gone to meet her friend, Mansi Gaikwad, and was waiting for her when Saroj allegedly approached her.

According to the police, the accused allegedly touched the woman’s chest and pulled her shirt before attempting to lift her. The woman cried for help, drawing the attention of her friend, who had reached the spot and tried to push the accused away.

Mansi’s aunt, Sheetal Gaikwad, and another person, Vishnu More, also intervened to help the woman. During the altercation, the accused allegedly threw More’s mobile phone to the ground, damaging it.

The woman’s cries and the commotion attracted other residents, who allegedly caught and assaulted Saroj before police arrived and took him into custody.

Senior Police Inspector Sudarshan Gaikwad of Bharati Vidyapeeth police station confirmed the incident. He said the accused lived in the same locality and allegedly approached the woman from behind after she moved away from him following an initial act of inappropriate touching. The woman reportedly fell to the ground when he attempted to lift her.

## Police Register Case Under BNS

Police have registered a case against Saroj at Bharati Vidyapeeth police station under Sections 76 and 324(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Section 76 deals with assault or criminal force against a woman with the intent to disrobe her, while Section 324(4) concerns mischief causing damage.

Inspector Gaikwad said the accused was scheduled to be produced before a court on Monday.

Police also received information from the accused’s brother alleging that Saroj had behaved similarly towards women while living in Uttar Pradesh. The claim requires further verification and has not been independently established.

The investigation is ongoing to establish the circumstances of the incident and examine the allegations against the accused.