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Journalism of Courage
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Mayank Gandhi was on Friday booked in a molestation case after an Andheri resident approached the police.
Police sources said the complaint of outraging the modesty of a woman and criminal intimidation was registered against Gandhi and five others, one of whom is a woman, on Friday.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone IX) Satyanarayan Chaudhary confirmed that an FIR had been filed against Gandhi. “The incident in question occurred eight months ago. We are conducting further inquiries.”
An officer with the Oshiwara police said Gandhi had been called to the police station on Sunday. The complainant, a tuition teacher, has alleged in her complaint that she was assaulted in a way that outraged her modesty in Millat Nagar as well as in the Nana Nani Park in Versova. She has named six people in her complaint, including Gandhi, the police said.
Gandhi dismissed the charges. “About three-and-a-half months ago, a party volunteer had complained that another volunteer Tarun Singh was harassing her. We questioned Singh and suspended him. We asked the girl if she wanted to file an FIR, but she said she just wanted to lodge a complaint with the party. As we have a Vishakha committee, I asked it to take up the case up. The girl also gave a written statement to the committee. That is the only time I met this girl. I have been accused of abetting the crime in terms of inaction. This is clearly politically motivated,” said Gandhi.
