The incident occurred on the night of Wednesday, September 16, 2026, when the Mysuru‑Thoothukudi Express was travelling through the Erode railway zone. The victim, a 21‑year‑old woman heading to Madurai, was seated in a reserved coach when the man occupying the berth directly above her allegedly made unwanted sexual advances.
The woman raised an alarm, prompting nearby passengers to intervene. Together they restrained the suspect and handed him over to railway police stationed at Karur, according to official statements.
Police from the Erode railway jurisdiction opened an inquiry based on the woman's complaint. Investigators identified the accused as Selva Vinayagan, a 50‑year‑old resident of Prakash Nagar in Tiruvallur district.
Vinayagan was arrested under the provisions of the law relating to sexual offences against women, produced before a court, and on Thursday, September 17, was lodged in the Erode sub‑jail pending further legal proceedings.