Bengaluru doctor arrested for molesting woman during medical examination
Bengaluru: A 56-year-old dermatologist from a private clinic in Ashoknagar, Bengaluru, has been remanded to judicial custody for allegedly molesting a 22-year-old woman under the pretext of a medical examination.
According to police sources, based on a complaint filed by the survivor, the Ashoknagar police have registered a case against the doctor, identified as Dr. Praveen, under Sections 75 (sexual harassment) and 79 (outraging the modesty of a woman through words, gestures, or acts) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The accused has since been taken into judicial custody.
The incident reportedly occurred on the evening of October 18 when the woman visited the private clinic along with her father for treatment of a skin infection. During the consultation, her father stepped outside, and the doctor allegedly took advantage of the situation to behave inappropriately with her.
The complaint states that Dr. Praveen subjected the woman to harassment for nearly 30 minutes, repeatedly touching her inappropriately under the guise of examining the skin condition. He allegedly insisted that she remove her clothes, claiming it was part of the examination, and made obscene remarks and advances.
The survivor also alleged that the doctor suggested booking a hotel room to spend private time with him. Following the incident, the woman informed her family, who, along with local residents, gathered outside the clinic on Monday demanding immediate action against the accused.
Police confirmed that the doctor was subsequently arrested and produced before the court, which remanded him to judicial custody pending further investigation.
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India proposes preferential trade agreement with Mexico to deal with high tariffs
New Delhi (PTI): India has proposed a preferential trade agreement (PTA) with Mexico to help domestic exporters deal with the steep tariffs announced by the South American country, a top government official said on Monday.
Mexico has decided to impose steep import tariffs - ranging from about 5 per cent to as high as 50 per cent on a wide range of goods (about 1,463 tariff lines) from countries that do not have free trade agreements with Mexico, including India, China, South Korea, Thailand and Indonesia.
Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said that India has engaged with the country on the issue.
"Technical level talks are on...The only fast way forward is to try to get a preferential trade agreement (PTA) because an FTA (free trade agreement) will take a lot of time. So we are trying to see what can be a good way forward," he told reporters here.
While in an FTA two trading partners either significantly reduce or eliminate import duties on maximum number of goods traded between them, in a PTA, duties are cut or removed on a limited number of products.
Trading partners of Mexico cannot file a compliant against the decision on imposing high tariffs as they are WTO (World Trade Organisation) compatible.
The duties are within their bound rates, he said, adding that their primary target was not India.
"We have proposed a PTA because its a WTO-compatible way forward... we can do a PTA and try to get concessions that are required for Indian supply chains and similarly offer them concessions where they have export interests in India," Agrawal said.
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Citing support for local production and correction of trade imbalances, Mexico has approved an increase in MFN (most favoured nation) import tariffs (5-50 per cent) with effect from January 1, 2026 on 1,455 tariff lines (or product categories) within the WTO framework, targeting non-FTA partners.
Preliminary estimates suggest that this affects India's around USD 2 billion exports to Mexico particularly -- automobile, two-wheelers, auto parts, textiles, iron and steel, plastics, leather and footwear.
The measure is also aimed at curbing Chinese imports.
India-Mexico merchandise trade totalled USD 8.74 billion in 2024, with exports USD 5.73 billion, imports USD 3.01 billion, and a trade surplus of USD 2.72 billion.
The government has been continuously and comprehensively assessing Mexico's tariff revisions since the issue emerged, engaging stakeholders, safeguarding the interests of Indian exporters, and pursuing constructive dialogue to ensure a stable trade environment benefiting businesses and consumers in both countries.
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Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) Director General Ajay Sahai has said that Mexico's decision is a matter of concern, particularly for sectors like automobiles and auto components, machinery, electrical and electronics, organic chemicals, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and plastics.
"Such steep duties will erode our competitiveness and risk, disrupting supply chains that have taken years to develop," Sahai said, adding that this development also underlines the little urgency for India and Mexico to fast-track a comprehensive trade agreement.
Domestic auto component manufacturers will face enhanced cost pressures with Mexico hiking duties on Indian imports, according to industry body ACMA.
