The flight landed in Mumbai late on Saturday.
The Mumbai police arrested a man on Sunday evening on charges of molesting a teenage Bollywood actor on a Vistara Delhi-Mumbai flight after she shared her ordeal on social media the night before, sparking nationwide outrage. The accused has been identified as Vikas Sachadev (39). He will be produced in court on Monday. He works with a private media and entertainment firm and holds a high position, police sources said.
Earlier in the day, the police recorded the 17-year-old's statement and registered the case under Section 354 of the IPC (assault with intent to outrage a woman's modesty), and Section 8 of the POCSO Act.
"We have arrested the accused and are checking if there is any CCTV footage in the flight," said Anil Kumbhare, Deputy Commissioner of police, Zone 8. ?
The flight landed in Mumbai late on Saturday. A little after midnight, the national award winning actor took to Instagram, posted a series a messages and also a video, alleging that a co-passenger, sitting behind her, rubbed her shoulder, neck and back with his foot.
"So, I was in a flight travelling from Delhi to Mumbai today and right behind me was one middle-aged man who made my two-hour journey miserable. I tried to record it on phone to understand it better because the cabin lights were dimmed, I failed to get it," said the visibly shaken actor, who has starred in a recent Bollywood blockbuster.
She indicated that there was no help from the cabin crew when she raised an alarm. "Slow claps for Vistara's crew guys... wonderful." The teenager, however, managed to photograph the man's foot which was on her arm rest.
"This is not done, I am disturbed. Is this how you're going to take care of girls?" Who is going to help us girls? If we don't help ourselves, nobody will come ahead," she said as she cried.
The police visited a hotel, where she was staying with her mother to record her statement, and registered an FIR later at the police station.
"A probe is on to verify the claims. Appropriate action shall be taken after investigations. Meanwhile, we have sought details from the airlines on the alleged molester and are recording the statement of the airline staff present inside the airplane," said Sunil Shejwal, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Airport Division.
Several celebrities, including politicians, tweeted about the incident.
Mehbooba Mufti, the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, the home state of the victim, tweeted, "Any harassment/crime against women should be dealt with swiftly and effectively. As a mother of two daughters I am appalled at what happened with her. Hope the relevant authorities take strict action."
Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha said, "She should do two things- firstly register an FIR, and secondly, she should cooperate with the airline... they could put the passenger on a no-fly list, if he is found guilty. We condemn this incident."
Vistara said it was probing the complaint and would extend all help to her, adding it has "zero tolerance for such behaviour".
"It appears crew only became aware of something amiss during final descent when they were seated for landing. Further details will come from the investigation which is currently ongoing in full force."
Senior Vistara officials also met the victim and her mother in Mumbai.
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