American tourist molestation case: Charges framed against accused

MUZAFFARNAGAR: A local court has framed charges against an accused who was arrested last week in connection with molestation of an American tourist.

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Manoj Kumar Sidhu framed charges against taxi driver Samay Singh under section 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of the Indian Penal Code and recorded the statement of the American tourist yesterday.

A chargesheet was filed on Saturday against Singh on the basis of the victim's statement recorded in court.

The incident took place on May 11 when the victim was on her way to Rishikesh from Delhi in a taxi.

The taxi driver stopped the car near a roadside eatery at Delhi-Dehradun National Highway and tried to molest her. The woman managed to flee from the spot and reached Rishikesh by another vehicle, police had said earlier.

Based on her complaint, an FIR was lodged and a case registered against Singh.

The woman is scheduled to leave the country tomorrow. Therefore, all formalities including recording her statement, have been completed in the case, police said.

The next hearing in the case has been adjourned till June 5 in view of remaining evidence in the case.