Ex-member of Madhya Pradesh civic body booked for sexually harassing girl

Additional police superintendent Neeraj Soni said Gulhane called the girl to his home on Monday evening and allegedly sexually harassed her

Updated on: Jan 3, 2023, 16:55:11 IST

By Shruti Tomar

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A former nominated member of a civic body in Madhya Pradesh’s Betul was on the run after he was booked for allegedly sexually harassing a 13-year-old girl on Monday.

Police said Gulhane threatened the girl with dire consequences. (IANS)

Angry residents staged a protest and set a car on fire after police could not find Ramesh Gulhane, 58, the accused, when they came to arrest him. Heavy police force has been deployed near the house of Gulhane.

Additional police superintendent Neeraj Soni said Gulhane called the girl to his home on Monday evening and allegedly sexually harassed her. “Gulhane threatened the girl with dire consequences and also gave money to her to hide the matter from.” He added the girl informed her family , which filed a complaint with police.

The family alleged police took time in lodging the case, which allowed Gulhane to flee.

Soni said angry residents also tried to vandalise Gulhane’s house but police dispersed them. “Gulhane has been booked under Protection of Children from Sexual Offence Act. We are trying to nab him.” He added they have arrested four people for rioting and arson.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shruti Tomar
I have spent over a decade chronicling Madhya Pradesh’s political and social landscape, covering politics, investigative journalism, crime, human interest, and government policy, blending sharp insight with ground‑level depth. I have closely tracked three assembly elections, three Lok Sabha elections, leadership transitions in MP while exposing governance lapses, tender irregularities, and flawed policy rollouts. My reports have revealed gaps in the Cheetah project, irregularities in medical education, rigging in recruitment exams, and loopholes in policy implementation. In crime reporting, I have moved beyond FIRs to map systemic patterns — from organised crime networks and gender‑based violence to custodial accountability — balancing urgency with sensitivity. My journalism is defined by a commitment to human interest. I have profiled the marginalised Bancchda community, documented atrocities against tribal groups, and highlighted efforts to preserve their culture through heritage liquor and revival of spiritual practices. I have reported on farmers struggling with failed MSP promises, giving voice to those often reduced to statistics in policy files. Passionate about field reporting, I have reported on rampant sand mining in Chambal and Narmada, pharmaceutical companies supplying medicines under altered names, the dire condition of schools and colleges, the plight of commercial sex workers, and skewed sex ratios in specific districts. Beyond deadlines, and as HT’s state correspondent and assistant editor in Madhya Pradesh, I engage with ministers, farmers, students, and activists, believing the best policy stories begin with a single human voice. A postgraduate in Journalism and Mass Communication, I also hold a diploma in sports journalism.Read More