French national arrested for sexually harassing minor

Puducherry [India], Feb 9 (ANI): A French national on Wednesday was arrested for allegedly sexually harassing a minor girl in Puducherry.

The arrest came after the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) registered a complaint in the regard.

The culprit has been identified as Thierry Gagner, who also happens to be the Director of a NGO namely Hopigo & Missions Humanitaries.

The complaint was made against Gagner to CWC by one of the French volunteers of the NGO, which later reached Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi's office.

The accused has been booked under Section 10 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Gagner claimed that he had adopted the child, even as the victim's mother denied the claim.

A team of the Child Welfare Committee too stated that the 12-year-old girl confessed to have been kissed by him in her private parts.

The accused is also believed to have exposed himself naked before the child. (ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI