A 26-year-old man, who allegedly mouthed the words 'I love You' to a 16-year-old girl, in South Mumbai was arrested late on Saturday. Besides having to spend the night behind bars, the accused, who was produced in a holiday court on Sunday, was ordered to pay up Rs10,000 after which he was granted bail, the police said.

The man, Tarun Mandal, is a resident of Vasant Wadi at Kalbadevi Road. He is employed as an artisan with a gold ornament manufacturing unit.

Around 10.30pm on Saturday, the schoolgirl was speaking on the phone close to the building where she lives. An officer from LT Marg police station said that the man, who was not known to her, sidled up to her and caught her unawares. "Even before she realised it, he uttered the words 'I love you'," said this police officer.

Initially shocked, the girl was quick to raise an alarm. On hearing her cries, a few people from the building ran out of their homes.

"Among the people who had rushed out was the girl's cousin. When she told him about what the man had done, the cousin along with the other people caught hold of the man who was by then trying to flee, sensing trouble," said the officer.

The people, who had nabbed him, dragged him to LT Marg police station. The police said Mandal was arrested after he confessed to the crime.

"He has been booked under section 509 of the Indian Penal Code which allows arrest for the use of any word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman. A holiday court granted him bail against a surety of Rs10,000," said the officer.