A man who made sexual advances towards a woman police constable on bandobust duty during a temple festival in Ramapuram in 2023 has been convicted and sentenced to three years’ rigorous imprisonment by a Poonamallee court. In August 2023, the Angala Parameshwari Amman temple festival on the Ramapuram–Thiruvallur Road drew large crowds for its night-long fire-walking event, prompting heavy deployment of women personnel from the Armed Police and the Ramapuram police station. During the event, the accused, Kannan, allegedly approached a woman constable from behind, slapped her, and made sexual advances while under the influence of alcohol. Following her complaint, Ramapuram police analysed CCTV footage and videos recorded by festival attendees, which helped them trace and arrest Kannan, identified as a supporter of the DMK’s 155th ward. The incident had sparked political reactions at the time, with opposition parties criticising the involvement of a ruling-party cadre. The Sessions Court in Poonamallee heard the case.
Published – November 29, 2025 12:56 am IST
