India: Man arrested for harassing female passenger on Chennai-bound IndiGo flight

A 45-year-old man was taken into custody by the police in the Indian city of Chennai after being accused of harassing a female passenger on an IndiGo flight. The incident occurred on a flight from Jaipur to Chennai via Delhi.

Rakesh Sharma, the accused, and the woman were flying back to Chennai from Jaipur, on Wednesday (Oct 9).

A Chennai police officer, speaking to India Today, said that the woman had been seated by the window when the incident took place. Sharma, who was sitting directly behind her, allegedly touched her inappropriately while she was asleep.

Upon realising what had happened, the woman immediately alerted the flight crew. Once the plane landed in Chennai, Sharma was detained following her police complaint.

“The incident took place on an IndiGo Delhi-Chennai flight. The woman was seated next to the window and Sharma was behind her. The woman alleged Sharma touched her inappropriately when she was asleep,” said a police officer from the women’s police station at Meenambakkam airport, according to the Hindustan Times, requesting anonymity.

“After the flight landed in Chennai at 4.30 pm, the woman approached the airline staff, who assisted her to file a police complaint. A case was registered under section 75 (sexual harassment) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sharma was arrested later,” the officer added.

Sharma is employed at a tile company and had been in Jaipur on a business trip, according to the police. As of now, IndiGo has not made any official statement on the matter.

(With inputs from agencies)