Chandigarh, April 12 -- Over eight months after a 28-year-old gym trainer was arrested for sexually assaulting solitary women at parks in July 2024, a fast-track special court framed charges against him on Friday.

Trial against the accused, Sawan Bhatti, a BSc graduate and resident of Sector 49, Chandigarh, will begin on May 1.

The court of additional district judge Yashika charged Bhatti with rape in connection with a case registered at the Sector 11 police station on June 10, 2024.

A serial sex offender, Bhatti is already facing rape charges in another case, said police.

The present case was registered under Sections 354, 354-A, 376, 392 and 506 of the IPC on the complaint of a female student.

In her complaint, the student stated t...