Auto driver who sexually harassed journalist arrested

MUMBAI: The police on Sunday arrested the autorickshaw driver who allegedly sexually harassed a 22-year-old female journalist on the main road outside Phoenix Mall in Kurla (east). The accused, Rameshkumar Jaiswal (40), was caught when he came to drop passengers from Ghatkopar outside Phoenix mall at 3pm.
Jaiswal has been charged under IPC sections 354 (A), 504, 506 and under the Motor Vehicle Act for refusing fare.
The incident occurred on July 14, when the victim and her friend were at the mall. In her complaint, filed on Saturday, the victim said, “The rickshaw driver refused to go to Kurla railway station and said he was going home. He also touched me intentionally while talking and asked me if I wanted to accompany him home.”
Jaiswal was caught when the cops found his rickshaw outside the mall, bearing the registered number 9658, matching those provided by the victim. “We were keeping a watch at the mall as we felt the accused was a frequent plyer to the spot. Jaiswal was caught when he came to drop some passengers. He has confessed to the offence and will be produced in court on Monday,” said DCP (Zone V) Mahesh Patil.