Daijiworld Media Network – Karkala (SP)
Karkala, Aug 16: Felix Stephen Noronha (45) from Kodyadka in the taluk, who sent the police department of the district into a tizzy by sending fax to Karnataka chief minister over the alleged sexual harassment of girl students by Sooda high school headmaster, was driven by anger that was seething inside him since the last 18 years, the police learnt.
Felix used to stay at Shirva in the past. About 18 years back, Rithesh Shetty, teacher, had driven his car through the courtyard of Felix's mother's house. Felix had objected to this act, at which Rithesh, who got angry, reportedly hit him with his hands. This act gave rise to a deep-rooted anger in the mind of the young man.
Even after he became a chartered accountant over the course of time and worked in a foreign country and then set up his house in Kodyadka, Felix continued to be haunted by memories of his age-old insult.
The innate desire to seek vengeance surfaced recently, after Felix, who was on a visit home last month, read news about sexual crimes, and strict action being initiated by the government under reinforced act against sexual offenders, through publications and visual media. He planned to satiate his desire to take revenge against Sooda high school headmaster, Rithesh Shetty. He created a fake email ID in the name of Shibani and Prem, and sent several emails and fax to the office of the state chief minister, Supreme Court, and some other high-ranking officials of the government, drawing their attention to the alleged sexual harassment meted out by Rithesh Shetty to girl students and lady teachers of his school. These emails were sent through a cyber centre in Moodbidri, and a laptop of his relative living in Shirva, the police came to know.
After the office of the chief minister contacted the district police and sought a detailed report on this case, the matter gained the attention of the rural police station here. A case was registered on August 5, and questioning of Rithesh Shetty, students of the high school, and others, revealed that false complaints had been hoisted against headmaster by unscrupulous persons. With the help of cyber crime branch, Bangalore, the police zeroed in on the accused. Stephen was arrested from Moodbidri on Thursday August 14, and produced in court on Friday.
Felix Stephen Noronha has been remanded to judicial custody till August 28.