US national molested on way to Mumbai by cab driver

A 40-year-old US national was allegedly molested by a 40-year-old cab driver in Andheri on Saturday while she was on her way to Mumbai from another district. The incident is said to have occurred on Saturday afternoon on JP road in Andheri (west) while the complainant was traveling in the private cab. She was travelling to her residence in Mumbai after completing some work in a neighbouring district. She and her acquaintances booked a private Innova car.

Her acquaintances got down before Andheri. She was seated in the front seat next to the driver who allegedly started masturbating. She asked him to stop the car on JP road and, with the help of passersby, she managed to catch hold of him. Police were alerted by passersby and the accused and complainant were brought to the DN Nagar police station.

An FIR has been registered under sections 354 A (sexual harassment) and 509 (act, word or gesture intent to insult woman’s modesty) of the IPC. The accused identified as Yogendra Upadhyay, a Goregaon resident, has been arrested. He was produced before a magistrate court on Sunday. Police said he has no prior criminal record.

The complainant told police she is from the USA and is a businesswoman. She has been traveling to India for work purposes and has been in the city for a month now.