Bollywood star Zaira Wasim's alleged harasser was taken into police custody Monday morning, Indian media reported, in what has become the latest case of abuse following a wave of similar incidents reported around the world over the past couple of months.
Wasim, 17, alleged on Sunday that she was harassed by a male passenger sitting behind her on a plane, narrating her ordeal via live video on Instagram and breaking down in tears halfway through.
The child star said she was on the Air Vistara flight from Delhi to Mumbai Saturday night when the man behind her extended and rested his foot on her armrest.
According to Indian media, authorities said the harasser — who has been identified as 39-year-old businessman Vikash Sachdev — was arrested from his Mumbai residence.
Sachdev was traced through his airline ticket, authorities explained, adding that he will be presented to the court today.
Omar Abdullah — the former chief minister of occupied Kashmir — had tweeted yesterday that the airline should disclose the passenger's identity to the police and a case be filed for legal action.
The alleged assaulter has been booked under India's Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) as well other sections under the law, a senior police officer said.
Passengers, crew 'didn't come to my aid'
In her video statement, Wasim had said she was unable to record the incident "because the cabin lights were dimmed".
"It continued for another five to ten minutes and then I was sure of it. He kept nudging my shoulder and continued to move his foot up and down my backside and neck.
"Neither the passengers nor the crew came to my aid," she added.
Vistara airline, on the other hand, issued two statements, one after the other. In its first one, the company had said it would look into the incident, adding that it had "zero tolerance for such behaviour".
In an update later, the airline stated that they are investigating the incident.
It also apologised to the actress, saying she has their complete support.
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