Man molests fellow flier on board, arrested on landing at Mumbai

A 34-year-old woman who was returning from a holiday in Brazil along with her husband and child was allegedly molested by a businessman inside an Ethopian Airline flight. The accused was later handed over to Sahar police station after the flight landed on Monday morning.

According to the police, the incident happened on board Ethopian Airline's ET 610, which originated from Addis Ababa. The accused named Rajesh Singh, 43 — a businessman dealing in garments — was sitting behind the victim's seat. The incident happened around 4am on Monday, the police said.

According to the police, the accused was initially oggling at the victim. He also made vulgar comments and touched the victim 's shoulders and neck, but she ignored. But when the victim got up to visit the toilet, the accused reportedly followed her and tried to grope her, the complainant told the police.

Sources said the woman got scared and raised an alarm. Her husband, who was sitting in another row, immediately informed the airline crew. The crew members then caught hold of the accused and handed him over to the police on landing in Mumbai.

"We have arrested accused on charges of outraging the modesty of a woman. He was presented before a metropolitan court which granted him to judicial custody," said senior police inspector Ravindra Patil of Sahar police station.

The police said that the victim and her family are from Rajasthan. Her husband is a professor.

The accused, a resident of Pune, is a native of Jharkand.