Shaken airhostess,indignant team

The Mumbai Police said the airhostess turned wary after learning of the profile of the alleged molesters: one of them is Churchill Brothers captain Nigerian Okolie Odafa,one of India’s best paid footballers and top strikers.

“She was in two minds. After seeing the way television channels were playing up the allegation; she was feeling intimidated. It was only after four hours of assurances that we finally convinced her to lodge an FIR,” said a police officer.

Acting on the FIR,the Airport police arrested Odafa,Ogba Kalu (20) and goalkeeper Arindam Bhattacharya (20). After their release on bail,Addl CP (West) Amitabh Gupta said the police would try and file the chargesheet as early as possible.

“We have a strong case,thanks to her statement. There were also several witnesses on the flight and we will record their statements too,” Gupta said.

A crewmember said the players first passed lewd remarks as the airhostess passed them. “One of them grabbed her by the shoulder. She wriggled away and tried to ignore them,but when one of the players brushed against her,she complained to a senior crewmember,” he said. The crew,including the flight’s captain,then tried to intervene,the witness said. “An argument followed. Some passengers too offered their support to the crew.”

Churchill Brothers co-owner Joaquim Alemao insisted that Odafa’s hand had accidentally brushed against the airhostess. He threatened to sue the airline for defamation.

Senior police inspector Nitin Indurkar of the Airport police station said the players had tested negative for alcohol. “They were released on bail early today on the condition that they have to be present in court whenever summoned,” he said. “If we need them during the investigation process,we will issue a summons,or arrest them again if they fail to show up.”

SpiceJet wrote to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation about the incident,as per policy. “From an airline’s perspective,it is a safety issue for the aircraft,passengers and cabin crew,” said Arjun Singh,director of the airline.