39-year-old man arrested for molesting teen actress on flight in Mumbai

MUMBAI: A 39-year-old man was arrested on Sunday for allegedly molestingDangal actor onboard a Delhi-Mumbai flight. Deputy Commissioner of Police Anil Kumbhare said that he will be produced in the court on Monday.

The accused has been identified as Vikash Sachdev.

Sachdev has been booked under section 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of IPC, and relevant sections of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) since the actor is a minor, Senior Police Inspector, Sahar, Lata Shirsat, said.

"So, I just landed and you know the whole irony of this is that the guy... this is not done at all. This is not the way, this is not a girl should be made to feel because this is terrible. Is this how they are doing to take care of girls? No one will help us if we don't decide to help ourselves. This is the worst thing," she said in an Instagram video.

She said she tried to click a photo of the man, but couldn't get a clear shot due to dim lights.

"Managed to get this (shot of the molester's foot). The lights were dimmed so it was even worse. It continued for another 5-10 minutes and then I was sure of it. He kept nudging my shoulder and continued to move his foot up and down my back and neck," she posted, also slamming the airline saying, "Slow claps for Vistara's crew guys! Wonderful!" she wrote.

After the video started to trend on Sunday, the Mumbai Police launched an investigations. They recorded the actor's statement and subsequently lodged an FIR.

Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Ministry has sought a report on the incident. Vistara Airlines has apologized to the actor and said it was carrying out a detailed investigation.