Paradip, Oct. 23: A 16-year-old college girl was allegedly molested by an Odisha Administrative Service officer in a Cuttack-bound bus at Kujang on the outskirts of Paradip Port township.

Police said the alleged incident took place on October 17 and a case was registered against the accused, Kujang block development officer, Ashok Mohanty, following a complaint lodged by the victim on October 21.

The victim had boarded the bus to go to her college. The accused allegedly touched the victim inappropriately and had made sexual advances towards her in the bus. Both the victim and the accused were occupying the same seat in the bus, police added.

Traumatised, the victim narrated her ordeal to her parents four days after the incident. The minor girl lodged an FIR on 21 October.

"Following the complaint lodged by the 16-year-old girl, several cases have been registered against the accused under Indian Penal Code - Section 354 (outrage of modesty), Section 506 (criminal intimidation) - and Section 10 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act," said inspector of Kujang police station, Bichitranand Samal.

"The investigation is being conducted coherently. If the charges against the officer are established, he will be arrested," said Samal.

The molestation incident had sparked off protests in Kujang when it came to light yesterday after the registration of the police complaint. The local residents staged a protest in front of Kujang police station demanding the immediate arrest of the accused officer.

"This is a very unfortunate. This incident is going to dent the image of administrative officials. However, the case should be thoroughly probed to ascertain the truth behind the allegations," said a senior official of Jagatsinghpur district administration who didn't want to be named.