‘No one protested rude volunteer’s behaviour’

Addressing reporters at Mumbai Press Club during the launch of a mobile application called ‘Harassap’,the victim said,“I had joined the queue on September 13 and finally entered the sanctorum early the next day. I had barely bowed to touch the idol’s feet when a man grabbed my arm and pulled me away. He kept doing this with every devotee,including women. However,no one complained,” she said.

The victim alleged that when she confronted him,the suspect insulted her. “I did not like what he did and asked why he was behaving badly. He said rudely that I hadn’t been invited there and that I should finish my darshan and leave. I went to the Kalachowkie police station,but the cops did not register my complaint for a long time,” she said.

The accused remains absconding. “He did not return to his home in Kalachowkie that day. We are on the lookout for him,” said senior inspector Bhausaheb Gite.

The lawyer was invited by NGO Akshara for the launch of the app. It enables women to report instances of sexual harassment immediately and marks the precise location of the incident,the NGO claimed.

‘Molestation’ at Lalbaugcha Raja

Video footage captured by a news channel that day showed a male volunteer pushing away devotees before they had a chance to properly pay their respects to the Ganpati idol

The victim alleged that when she confronted him,the suspect insulted her. “I asked why he was behaving badly. He said rudely that I hadn’t been invited there. I went to Kalachowkie police station,but the cops did not register my complaint for a long time,” she said

mumbai.newsline@expressindia.com