GRP Arakkonam police arrest head constable on sexual harassment charge

A 42-year-old head constable attached to R.S. Puram police in Coimbatore was arrested by Government Railway Police (GRP), Arakkonam, in Ranipet over allegedly sexual harrassment charges by a woman commuter in a moving train.

The police said the arrested person was identified as Sheikh Abdullah. The suspect was arrested after the bail petition filed by him before the Supreme Court was rejected recently. Police said it was on December 20, 2025, suspect Abdullah was returning to Coimbatore from Chennai in the general compartment of an express train. Police said that during the journey, Abdullah has reportedly sexually harassed a law student, who was sitting next to him and travelling to Coimbatore. She filmed the incident, which went viral in social media platforms, inviting a public outcry.

Police said the survivor reported the incident to GRP police at Katpadi railway station after halting the train. Subsequently, she filed an online complaint against the constable, who managed to obtain anticipatory bail. Police said based on an Departmental inquiry, the constable was suspended by the district police. Meanwhile, Abdullah filed a petition for bail on condition before the Supreme Court. The bail petition was rejected recently. Following it, the constable was arrested in Coimbatore. Later, he was lodged at Central Prison in Vellore. A probe is underway.