The Santacruz police on Tuesday night registered an FIR of insulting a woman’s modesty against the independent MLA from Karnataka, Ashok Kheny, after he allegedly spoke in abusive language to a woman journalist on Monday.
The incident occurred at the entrance to JW Marriott Hotel in Santacruz, when Mr. Kheny was exiting the hotel to get into his car. The complainant, a senior journalist with a national television channel, tried to speak to him about the purpose of his visit to Mumbai, and Mr. Kheny allegedly responded to her in abusive language. The journalist protested his choice of words, after which Mr. Kheny said he was in Mumbai on some business and left in his car.
The entire incident was caught on tape, as the journalist’s cameraperson was recording while she was trying to talk to Mr. Kheny. The video was played unedited by the news channel and went viral on the internet, and the journalist subsequently approached the police on Tuesday.
“We have registered an FIR under section 509 of the Indian Penal Code and are conducting further inquiries,” said senior police inspector Shantanu Pawar, Santacruz police station.
The police will shortly be recording the statement of Mr. Kheny and will be making inquires with hotel staff and those who were present in the hotel lobby at the time of the incident.
Controversy
The Karnataka government is currently in controversy after four of its MLAs were caught on tape demanding Rs. 5 crore or more in exchange for casting their votes for the Rajya Sabha elections. The Congress reportedly flew 14 independent MLAs to Mumbai and has accommodated them at five-star hotel in Santacruz to prevent them from being poached.
