Gujarat HC order today in Bulgarian national’s plea accusing pharma company CMD of rape

The court also took on record a complaint filed by the woman by way of an email dated April 9, sent to the Mahila police station.

During brief arguments on Thursday, public prosecutor Mitesh Amin told HC that as far as the Mahila police station is concerned, the first complaint – the email dated April 9 – was investigated and the matter was put to rest by April 21, after the woman allegedly arrived at a settlement with the accused.

“On April 25, the petitioner approached the office of the police commissioner with a letter, which again came to the Mahila police station, which again was (inquired into)… again statement of the particular person referred to in the complaint was taken… issue was settled and was reported to the office of police commissioner,” Amin added.

In July, the woman had moved a rural magistrate court in Ahmedabad with a private complaint alleging rape, criminal assault and criminal intimidation against the CMD and another employee of the company. The complaint was moved under CrPC Section 156 (3), which empowers the magistrate to order an investigation. The application was however rejected in October, following which the woman moved HC the same month.

According to the prosecution, prior to approaching the magistrate court, the woman had approached Mahila police station and other probe agencies as well.

As per the woman’s complaint, she was employed as a flight attendant and a personal assistant to the CMD last August. She landed in India on November 24, 2022 and was housed near the CMD’s residence to work as his “butler personal assistant”. The complaint alleged that the woman was asked to accompany the CMD on a trip to Udaipur in February this year and days later, to Jammu. On their way back, she was put in an “uncomfortable situation” by the CMD on their flight, and was subsequently sexually harassed by him.

Thereafter, she approached Navrangpura police station, Sola police station and Mahila police station with her complaint before moving the magistrate court.