NEW DELHI: A government employee who allegedly sexually harassed a 20-year-old woman co-passenger in a moving DTC bus last month has been denied bail by a Delhi court which said the charges were "grave and serious" and the man had targeted the victim who is his daughter's age.

Metropolitan magistrate Ekta Gauba denied bail to Devi Dayal who had been charged under section 354 A IPC which was added under the new anti-rape ordinance promulgated by the President following the massive outrage over the gangrape of a 23-year-old paramedical student in a moving bus in the national capital on December 16.

Section 354 A of IPC deals with sexual harassment, physical contact and advances involving unwelcome and explicit sexual overtures; or any other unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of sexual nature.

Gupta was arrested on a complaint of the girl who told the police that last month she was travelling by bus number 970 which originates from Jawaharlal Nehru stadium and passes through Parliament street, finally terminating at Rohini in north west Delhi.

The accused, who looked of the age of her father, boarded the bus from Parliament street area and stood next to where she was seated.

He then started touching her indecently and even when the girl objected to it, Gupta allegedly did not relent.

A few minutes later, when the bus reached Karam Pura, the girl noticed that Gupta was "fastening the zip of his trousers". The girl then raised an alarm and lodged a complaint with the police.

"In view of the fact that the allegations against the accused are grave and of serious nature, I find no merit in the bail application. The same stands dismissed," the court said.