Temple priest arrested for flashing at women in Chennai

Tamil Nadu police have arrested a 30-year-old priest for flashing private parts at women on the streets of Nanganallur in Chennai. The arrested person was identified as Balaji, a priest at a temple in Pallavaram in the city.

Recently, a group of women had posted the accused’s photos on social media stating that he had been harassing women walking alone in Nanganallur.

Being alerted, a special team set up by the Pazhavanthangal police retrieved CCTV footage from the area and traced the vehicle number of the suspect. Subsequently, on Saturday night, the police caught him red handed when he tried to grope a woman on the streets.

Police said the accused used to cover his face with mask and flash at women walking alone in the area. “If women scolded or chased him, he used to run away. But if they ignored him, he would come back and try to grope them,” police said.

Explaining his modus operandi, police said he has been doing this for at least six months. “He chooses dark street corners for such activity,” police added.

On Monday, Balaji was booked on the charges of Tamil Nadu women harassment act. Later, he was produced before the judicial magistrate and remanded to judicial custody.