Pretending to take measurements, man gropes woman on Fashion Street

Azad Maidan police have arrested a 20-year-old clothes seller for allegedly groping a 24-year-old woman on Friday under the pretext of taking measurement for a maxi (long dress) that she wanted to buy. The accused has been identified as Satyendrakumar Pandit.

According to police, the incident took place around 2 pm on Friday when the victim was shopping alone near Fashion street on MG Road in South Mumbai. Police said that as the woman was checking the clothes, the man asked her what she wanted to buy, to which the woman replied that she wanted to buy a maxi for herself. The accused shown her two-three pieces, and asked her to come near for measurements, but the woman refused saying that there was no need to take measurements for a maxi. The accused kept goading her, asking her to step into a shop so he could show her good maxis. "As the woman entered inside the shop, the accused, under the pretext of taking measurements, touched her inappropriately. The woman resisted and started crying for help. The accused, fearing a thrashing from the public, fled the scene," said a police officer from Azad Maidan police station.

The victim then rushed to the police station and lodged a complaint, leading to the police tracing the accused and arresting him. The man has been booked for molestation under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.