CHENNAI: The canteen contractor at Government Arts College, Nandanam, his employee, and an auto-rickshaw driver were arrested on Thursday for sexually assaulting a 20-year-old woman working in the campus canteen over the last few days.
Officials from the Saidapet All Women Police Station (AWPS) arrested the canteen contractor, Muthuselvam, his staff, Gunasekaran, and auto driver Karthikeyan. Muthuselvam has been running the canteen in the college for the last 12 years, police investigations revealed.
The woman, a native of Ariyalur, had joined as a staff in the canteen about a month ago, police sources said.
Officials were alerted about the sexual assault on Wednesday after the woman shared her ordeal with a college staff member, who alerted the Social Welfare and Women Empowerment Department.
The woman, who got separated from her husband, was brought to work as a canteen staff by Muthuselvam. Taking advantage of her situation, he sexually exploited her, revealed the probe. Meanwhile, Gunasekaran, the cook, repeatedly harassed her seeking sexual favours, while the third person, Karthikeyan, too sexually assaulted her.
Unable to bear the ordeal, she informed a college staff about the harassment she was facing. "Based on the complaint, the Saidapet AWPS had registered a case under relevant sections and investigations were carried out. After sustained investigations, it was confirmed that the accused persons were involved in the sexual assault and harassment, after which they were arrested," a senior officer said.
All three accused were produced before a magistrate and remanded in judicial custody.