In a shocking incident in Mumbai, a businesswoman has alleged that she was held at gunpoint, stripped, and threatened with the release of private videos and photographs by senior officials of a pharmaceutical company, police said.
Mumbai Police have registered a case against six senior pharma officials on the complaint of a 51-year-old woman under relevant Sections of the Indian Penal Code and Section 66A of the IT Act, based on the woman’s complaint, which pertains to sexual violence, physical assault, and use of weapons, news agency ANI reported.
According to the FIR filed at NM Joshi Marg Police Station in central Mumbai, the woman, who runs a photo frame and gifting business, was called to the company’s office on Dr E Moses Road, Mahalaxmi, on January 18, 2023, between 11:30 am and 1 pm, by one of the accused over the phone.
The FIR alleges that upon her arrival, she was allegedly struck on the shoulder and back with the butt of a revolver by one of the individuals present. The prime accused allegedly removed her veil inside his cabin, held a revolver to her head, and forced her to remove all her clothing, taking photographs and videos of her in her undergarments. He then threatened to make the visuals go viral, reported ANI.
The complaint further states that the accused coerced her into providing a false statement, warning that she would otherwise be implicated in a false legal case and jailed. Another pharma official is alleged to have filed a false complaint against her, causing further mental anguish.
Police have confirmed that a probe is underway and are investigating the matter.
St Xavier’s College guest panellist accused of sexual harassment at Antas seminar
In another similar incident, more than 10 students have levelled allegations of sexual harassment against an individual invited to speak at the national seminar of Antas, an annual festival organised by the city’s St Xavier’s College’s Hindi department. The matter came to light when several students comprising the festival workforce announced that they would boycott the event if their grievances were not addressed. The alleged incident took place on November 24.
An apology acknowledging that a guest misbehaved with students was posted on November 25 on the official Antas Instagram account. While alleged victims declined to speak to mid-day, citing trauma and fear of official reprimand, three of their friends shared the details with this newspaper, on the condition of anonymity.
The festival’s National Seminar was held on November 24-25, and the guest was invited as a speaker for a session. He was staying on the college campus in a guest accommodation. After his arrival on the evening of November 23, he allegedly ordered the volunteers of the guest management department to get him paan masala.
The students informed him that the consumption of such substances was not allowed on the college campus, but when he insisted, a male student complied. When the male volunteer went to his room to deliver it, he allegedly found the guest stark naked upon opening the door. The next morning, the guest continued to misbehave, according to students. “The guest was taking a stroll around the campus, and he began surreptitiously taking pictures of female students without their consent. He also took their phone numbers down on a piece of paper,” a student said.
Moreover, it was alleged that he groped a female student. A few students complained to a college priest, who then approached the guest speaker and asked for his phone. The cleric then allegedly found non-consensual pictures of female students on the device and deleted them. The students began reporting his behaviour to the faculty as well as the sexual harassment cell by afternoon on November 24, yet action was not taken immediately due to the principal’s absence from the campus.
(With ANI inputs)
