The Mandya Rural police on Wednesday arrested a man for allegedly sexually abusing a 12-year-old girl.
The accused, Kengalaiah (70), is a resident of Hale Budanuru in Mandya taluk. According to the police, he had sexually assaulted the victim, his neighbour, on several occasions for the past six months when she visited his house to watch TV.
The incident came to light on Wednesday when Kengalaiah was allegedly molesting the girl in an open place.
Three local residents alerted her parents, who approached the police and lodged a complaint under sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Indian Penal Code.
The accused has been remanded in judicial custody.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the accused had attempted to rape the girl three weeks ago at his residence.