Manoj Karjagi, a Congress leader from Karnataka, was arrested on Sunday after allegedly sexually assaulting a 20-year-old woman in the Dharwad district of the state. 

The accused had served as the former director of northwest Karnataka State Transport Corporation when Siddaramaiah was the Chief Minister. NDTV reported that based on the complaint of the 20-year-old, Karjagi was arrested on charges of sexual assault and put into judicial custody by Hubbali police. 

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The charges labeled against him were under section 354 A, India Today reported. He was produced in court earlier today and was released on bail. 

The complainant reportedly works as a beautician at a unisex salon and spa called Lemorz. The salon is owned by the accused Congres leader. 

According to her complaint, when the Congress leader came to the salon on a visit, he tried to hug and kiss her. Following the incident, the woman informed her boyfriend about it and he came over with two of his friends and beat the Congress leader up. The complainant later went to Hubbali police and registered a formal complaint. 

The Congress party has come forward and accepted that Manoj Karjagi was a former aide of a minister and was involved in the party’s activities. However, at present, the party denied any involvement with the accused.

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The police confirmed to NDTV that other charges have also been labeled against the former director of northwest Karnataka State Transport Corporation, and sexual harassment is just one of them. 

Another incident of sexual harassment in Karnataka was reported earlier in the week where the principal, and the computer operator of a government residential school were arrested on allegations of inappropriately touching school girls.

Yashwant V Gurukar, the deputy commissioner of Kalaburagi, had confirmed that a total of 10 girls had complained that they faced sexual harassment from the duo. Thereafter, the accused were arrested under POSCO and other charges.