Catcall in sky three years ago? A trial is in the air

New Delhi: Delhi High Court has cleared the way for an Australian national to be prosecuted for “meowing” at an airhostess during a flight to Delhi three years ago.
Ironically, the go-ahead for prosecution comes after Ranjeet Singh Sahota, an Australian of Indian origin, had himself moved the High Court saying he should be let off for making lewd noises at an airhostess just as he had been let off on the charge of attempting to outrage the modesty of a woman.
Sahota allegedly groped her on the Air-India flight from Singapore to Delhi shortly after take-off on February 2, 2004. She had reported Sahota’s behaviour to her seniors who cautioned him and deputed a male steward to attend to him for the rest of the flight. However, just before the plane landed Sahota alleged “meowed” at the attendant and passed lewd remarks as she walked down the aisle to check if passengers had fastened their seat belts.
Accordingly, a case was registered against the Australian with IGI Airport Police under Section 354 (assault intended to outrage the modesty of a woman) and Section 509 (passing lewd remarks, making sounds or gestures at women) of the IPC.
But a Metropolitan Magistrate here refused to entertain the allegation of assault on the “technical ground” that it occurred on “foreign soil” soon after take-off from Singapore.
But the magistrate said there was prima facie evidence that Sahota had made lewd remarks and made noises shortly before landing at Delhi and hence could be proceeded against under Section 509. A Sessions Court upheld this order late last year.
16/02/07 Krishnadas Rajagopal/Delhi Newsline

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Categories: foreign feb 2007