Voyeurism case: Goa CM Parsekar backs Fabindia; says it is an isolated incident

Under fire over the voyeurism charge, Fabindia on Monday got the backing of Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar who said the company cannot be blamed for the mischief played by some employees at its store, where Union Minister Smriti Irani spotted a camera facing the trial room.

"Fabindia is supposed to be a reputed company. I personally feel that it must not be the company's fault but mischief played by its staff members. Some womanisers must have done that," Parsekar said.

In a related development, Fabindia's Candolim store manager Chaitrali Sawant was granted anticipatory bail by a district court on Monday in Mapusa town near Panaji in connection with the case.

Parsekar said, "Smritiji was VIP and because of that cognisance has been promptly taken. We will see that such things don't occur again. It is a lesson for everybody." He said Goa is safe for all women tourists and this is an isolated incident.

Asked if changing rooms of all garment shops would be inspected across Goa, Parsekar said it is up to the police to decide on that.

"I have not issued any directions to check the changing rooms. If police do that then there might be allegations of extortion," he added.

The voyeurism case was filed against the outlet's staff after Irani, who visited the Fabindia store at Candolim on Friday, alleged that it had a CCTV camera focusing at the trial room. Sawant, who had been untraceable after the incident, had moved the court for anticipatory bail through her lawyer on Saturday.

The court, while granting the bail, asked Sawant to be present before the investigating officers for two days (today and tomorrow) as part of the probe in the case.