Manoj Karjagi, a former aide to a Congress minister, was arrested on charges of sexual assault in Karnataka’s Dharwad district on Saturday, September 17. Charges were labeled against him under section 354 A of the Indian Penal Code, and he was later produced in court. However, according to reports by India Today, he is now out on bail. 

Who is Manoj Karjagi? 

Manoj Karjagi is a former leader associated with the Karnataka wing of the Congress. He has been an aide to a Congress minister in the Siddaramaiah government, the party has confirmed after the news of his arrest became public.

Also read: Karnataka Congress leader arrested for sexually assaulting 20-year-old woman

Karjagi was an influential person and close to the Congress leadership in the previous government. He has served as the director of northwest Karnataka State Transport Corporation during Siddaramaiah’s tenure as the Chief Minister of Karnataka. Multiple pictures of the accused with the former CM Siddaramaiah have also surfaced following the incident. 

At present, Karjagi owns a chain of unisex salons and spas. The complainant, a 20-yr-old woman, worked as a beautician at one of his salons, called Lemorz in Dharwad district. The incident took place when Karjagi came on a visit to the salon and tried to hug and kiss the complainant. 

Initially, the girl alerted her boyfriend and he came with two of his friends and beat the Congress leader up. After that, she went to the Hubbali police station and lodged a sexual harassment complaint against Karjagi. 

Also read: President Droupadi Murmu in UK to attend state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II

Karjagi had made it to the headlines previously in 2017 after he was arrested for carrying cash worth Rs 20 lakh in his car. The Congress leader was traveling to Gundlupet, in Karnataka’s Chamarajanagar district in a car that had a ‘Government of Karnataka’ signboard. He also had a voter list of Gundlupet taluk with him, the New Indian Express had reported.