VC investor Mahesh Murthy held over sexual harassment

Mumbai:Venture

capital investor Mahesh Murthy was arrested in Mumbai on Friday on charges of sexually harassing a woman based in Delhi and using obscene language while communicating with her on WhatsApp.

The arrest of Murthy, the founder of early stage fund Seedfund, comes after the National Commission for Women (NCW) wrote to the Khar police in December. Based on the NCW complaint, an FIR was registered on 29 December against Murthy, a resident of Bandra (West).

Senior inspector Ramchandra Jadhav said, “Murthy was in Goa and he came to Mumbai on Friday morning. We arrested him from his residence.”

“I received anticipatory bail in this case a week ago. I am told it’s a procedural technical arrest and that I will be released on the bail granted earlier right away. I am cooperating with the police and will continue to defend myself in the court to the fullest of my ability,” Murthy said in a text message.

He did not respond to a follow-up question on his response to the allegations made against him. The FIR was filed under Indian Penal Code sections 354 (D), 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman), and section 67 the IT Act (punishment for publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form).

The woman approached the NCW last year with a written complaint alleging Murthy used objectionable, derogatory, obscene and sexual remarks against her on social media.