MUMBAI: MIDC police on Saturday arrested share broker and trader Jignesh Mehta on charges of sexually assaulting a struggling actor the previous night in a hotel room in Andheri (East). Police alleged that Mehta committed the offence after calling the woman to the hotel for dinner and later to the room, promising that he knew many Bollywood producers and would get her work.
Mehta was produced before a local court on Saturday and was released on bail. The 25-year-old woman intends to file an appeal before the court highlighting that the police did not take her matter seriously and did not apply stringent sections. Mehta was booked under the Indian Penal Code's sections 354 (outraging modesty of a woman), 354-B (any man who assaults or uses criminal force on any woman or abets such act with the intention of disrobing or compelling her to be naked), and 506 (criminal intimidation). TOI is in possession of the FIR in which Mehta has been shown as an accused.
MIDC police senior inspector Satish Gaikwad said, "Mehta was arrested from the hotel after his sexual assault attempt."
In her complaint, the woman said, "Mehta had asked me to come and meet him in Mumbai at a hotel room in Andheri MIDC after promising that he knew producers and would get me work if I join him for dinner in the room on Friday. He then tried to sexually assault me and started trying to pull my clothes off while his friend was also present in the room. The hotel staff rushed for help after hearing my screams."
Police said the hotel staff saved her and caught Mehta, who was then handed over to the police.
(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme court directives on cases related to sexual assault)
