85-year-old Malabar Hill resident booked for molesting 20-year-old help: Police

“From the day I started working there, the 85-year-old would constantly look at me and smile. Owing to his old age, I kept ignoring him,” the help said in her statement to police.

On September 11, the help said the accused’s wife went for a bath at around 9 am and their daughter had stepped out for work, when the accused allegedly molested her. “The 85-year-old was sitting at the dining table. I went to the kitchen to get a cloth to clean something when the accused came, touched me inappropriately and grabbed me from behind,” the victim alleged in her statement to the police.

The 20-year-old further alleged that after she managed to push him away and went to the hall room, the accused followed her, groped her again and kissed her, the police said.

“I called my brother-in-law but as he did not answer, I reached out to my previous employer and informed her about the incident,” the complainant told the police. The help later informed the accused’s wife after she came out of the bathroom, who then confronted him, and apologised to her.

The help approached the Malabar Hill police on September 12 to lodge a complaint. “We recorded her statement and registered a case under Section 74 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of the BNS Act,” said an officer, adding, “We have not arrested the accused as yet because of his old age, we have just served him a notice as per provisions of the law and allowed him to go.”

The police said they are probing the matter and further action will be taken as per the findings of the investigation.\