Railway police start inquiry against cop in Mumbai train molestation case

Mumbai’s railway police commissioner TA Chavan on Thursday initiated an inquiry against on-duty constable AS Patil, who was absent from the ladies’ compartment of the Borivli-bound local train where a 19-year-old female commuter was molested and slapped by an unidentified youth at Bandra on Monday.

Confirming the inquiry, Chavan said, “We got a detailed report from the Bandra railway police on Wednesday and we will take stern action against the erring constable after going through the report.”

Police inspector Rajiv Sawant of Bandra railway police station said, “Constable AS Patil, who was attached to the Andheri railway police station, was assigned the escort duty in the ladies compartment of the train on Monday. In his statement, he said he was absent as he was unwell,” said Sawant.

Sawant pointed out that at the same time, Patil did not inform his superior about his absence, which would have ensured that somebody else was guarding the compartment. Sawant added that Patil’s statement has been sent to railway police commissioner TA Chavan for further action.

Nineteen-year-old Sunita D’Souza (name changed to protect identity) was travelling in the ladies’ compartment adjacent to the guard cabin of a Borivli-bound train when she was molested and slapped by an unidentified 21-year-old between Bandra and Khar railway stations around 4.05am on Monday.

The Bandra police registered a case under sections 354 (molestation) and 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), said Sawant. They have also launched a manhunt to nab the molester.