Mumbai Police registers second case of sexual harassment against Seedfund co-founder Mahesh Murthy

A month after Mahesh Murthy was granted bail in a sexual harassment case, the Mumbai Police registered a second case of sexual harassment against the prominent angel investor and co-founder of venture capital firm Seedfund, according to media reports. On Monday, the police registered an FIR against Murthy under IPC Sections 354 and 509 for outraging the modesty of a 41-year-old woman, and an act intended to insult her modesty, The Times of India reported. [caption id=“attachment_4399031” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Mahesh Murthy. Twitter@maheshmurthy[/caption] “Although the incident dates back to 2004, the woman recently learned of his arrest in the other case. She gathered courage and decided to lodge a complaint,” the report quoted the police as saying, adding that the complaint is over alleged advances Murthy made during a business meeting in a cafe in Bandra. “She was a young intern then and met the accused for the first time. After a few days, they met at a restaurant, where Murthy kissed her on her lips without her consent,” Hindustan Times quoted an officer at Bandra Police Station as saying. “The woman didn’t know what to do… She was too young and didn’t meet him thereafter.” “This is age-old news, re-hashed and still complete nonsense. This lady makes claims that change from time to time, about what happened at one meeting in broad daylight in a crowded coffee shop some 14 years ago. I sued her for these defamatory claims a year ago, and the high court granted a stay in my favour. This is her counter attack. Once again, these are completely false allegations and I will fight these ridiculous claims,” Murthy told  The Indian Express. In January, the Mumbai Police had registered a case against Murthy for alleged sexual harassment, following several complaints from women to the National Commission of Women (NCW). The women complained about Murthy’s alleged use of objectionable language against them online. A cognisable offence was registered at the Khar Police station under section 67 of IT Act, Sections 354 (D) and 509 of IPC.