R B Jagadish
Daijiworld Media Network - Karkala
Karkala, Aug 14: In a fresh development in the false sexual harassment case against Rithesh Shetty, headmaster of Sooda government high school, the Karkala rural police on Thursday August 14 arrested Stephen (45), a resident of Shirva.
Stephen is believed to be the person who sent the fax to chief minister Siddaramaiah which had led to the detention of Rithesh Shetty.
Stephen, who recently returned from a foreign land, allegedly committed the act because of an old grudge he harboured against Rithesh Shetty.
In the wake of the state government taking tough measures against sexual harassment cases following the rape of a minor in a Bangalore school and the arrest of Hebri Shivpur high school headmaster on similar charges, Stephen hatched a plan to use this opportunity as a weapon against Rithesh Shetty, police investigation revealed.
During interrogation, Stephen reportedly said that 15 years ago, Rithesh Shetty had assaulted him in connection with a dispute over business. However, sources said that there is uncertainty over the veracity of his statement.
It may be recalled that Rithesh Shetty was detained after a letter in the names of 'Shibani' and 'Prem', alleging Shetty of sexually harassing students, was faxed to the chief minister's office. The CM took the matter seriously and directed the then SP of Udupi district Dr Boralingaiah to look into the matter. The SP instructed the Karkala police accordingly, and Rithesh Shetty was detained. However, police investigation revealed that the allegations were false, and the case was dropped. The locals too had come out in strong support of Rithesh Shetty.