A year on, 21-year-old Vakola woman awaits justice, claims frame-up

The manager of Yacht Resto Bar, Bandra said the accused was not related to them and was a customer. Pic/Atul Kamble

No justice for a 21-year-old Vakola resident, who had to run from pillar to post last year to report a case of molestation at a Bandra eatery, as she alleged that Bandra cops are trying to frame some other person in a bid to shield the real accused. She claimed that the management of the eatery had also tried to hush the matter by allegedly offering ‘free service' to settle the case.

The incident

As per the FIR filed with Bandra police last year, the complainant and her friend had gone to Yacht Resto Bar in Bandra on January 27, 2021 when the incident took place. She claimed that around 8.55 pm when she was heading to the washroom one unknown person tried to grope and molest her. When she tried to escape, another accused threatened her. According to the complaint, the accused was likely from Gujarat. "When he tried to grope me, he said: come to Gujrat, I will make your life. I understood from his dialect that he is from Gujarat," the woman said.

Not easy to file case

The complainant said, "It was not easy to register the complaint. First the hotel staff tried to hush the matter. One of the managers told me to settle the matter in exchange for ‘free service' in the future. But I didn't say a word. I asked for CCTV footage and then approached the person accompanying the molester."

"He told me he is a lawyer and will settle the matter. I took his mobile number and went to Bandra police station. But no cop was interested in taking my complaint. Instead, I was told, ‘your friend was consuming alcohol, why should we trust you?'. I told them I was not drunk and that even if I was, the footage clearly shows what happened. They still kept me waiting for several hours before finally registering the complaint," the woman said.

A case was filed against unknown persons under sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 34 (common intention) of the IPC.

Claims of framing

While the woman is still awaiting justice, the sessions court has recently rejected the bail plea of a 31-year-old who was present at the hotel at the night and paid the bill using his credit card. The complainant, however, said, "I was forwarded his photo for confirmation, but I had told the cops that he was not the one. I don't know how the police found him."

mid-day tried to reach out to the man but did not get a response. When mid-day reached out to Bandra cops, they claimed the investigation is still underway and publishing anything in the matter may attract action.

Eatery Speak

"The unfortunate incident occurred last year. The accused is not related to us. Both the accused and victim had come as customers. We are cooperating with the police officers," said Rajesh Shetty, manager of the restaurant.