"Dangal" actress Zaira Wasim, 17, has alleged she was molested mid-air by a middle-aged man, drawing strong reactions by women rights activists and politicians. The airline apologized and Mumbai Police, which registered an FIR, arrested the accused on Sunday.
The National Award winning Kashmiri actress complained about her ordeal on the flight on Saturday, claiming that a middle-aged man seated behind her moved his foot up and down her neck and back.
In a self-shot video for Instagram live chat, Zaira is also seen breaking down.
"I just landed, the whole irony of this that I yelled... and this is not done... this is not how you should be treated or made to feel. This is terrible.
"This is how they will take care of girls? No one will help us if we don't decide to help ourselves and that is the worst thing," she said, looking visibly disturbed.
Late on Sunday night, the Mumbai Police arrested the accused, identified as Vikas Sachdeva, 39. According to police, Sachedeva, a resident of Andheri, was earlier detained this afternoon and questioned before arrested for molestation and on other charges.
The incident drew wide condemnation.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said she was appalled.
"Any harassment or crime against women should be dealt with swiftly and effectively. As a mother of two daughters, I am appalled at what happened with Zaira," Mufti tweeted and urged the authorities to take strict action.
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the passenger should be identified by Air Vistara and a case should be filed.
The Civil Aviation Ministry has sought a report on the incident while the National Commission for Women (NCW) as well as the Delhi and Maharashtra commisions for women urged the actress to approach police.
NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma, Swati Maliwal of the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) and Maharashtra State Commission for Women (MSCW) Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar, issued notices to authorities concerned to take due action.
DCW has already sought answers from Vistara Airlines seeking details of the action taken by airlines.
Vistara Airlines apologized to Zaira and said it was carrying out a detailed investigation.
"We will support Wasim in every way required and also if she decides to report this matter to the police... We apologize for what Wasim experienced and we have zero tolerance for such behaviour," read a post on the Airlines' official Twitter page.
From the film industry, director Onir and actress Swara Bhasker came out in support of Zaira, who was also lauded for her performance in "Secret Superstar".
Official Statement: Update #3 pic.twitter.com/wd1RbK4uk6
— Vistara (@airvistara) December 10, 2017
"Shame Vistara that your staff did nothing. Shame on all the passengers, they are equally guilty as this moron. It should not be difficult for airlines to locate him from seat no. He should be arrested and punished," Onir tweeted.
Swara slammed it an "intolerable" incident and said: "We are now at that point where a 17-year-old child has to remind us what is right and what is wrong. I'm so sorry that adults around you let you down, Zaira Wasim. But you keep up the good fight. Stay strong."
Wrestler Babita Phogat tweeted a video in support of Zaira, who played the younger version of Geeta Phogat in "Dangal".
"If someone is misbehaving with you, give a tight slap on their face. They will never dare to repeat their actions again. Zaira, you don't need to be afraid of anyone and just be 'dhaakad' (bold) in real life as well."
Bollywood condemns teenage actor's alleged mid-air molestation Bollywood celebrities like Kareena Kapoor Khan, Alia Bhatt and Taapsee Pannu denounced the alleged molestation involving a teenage actress as "sad and shameful".
The 17-year-old actress said she experienced the ordeal -- wherein a middle-aged man seated behind her moved his foot up and down her neck and back -- while she was travelling from Delhi to Mumbai on a flight. The accused has been arrested.
Bollywood's women brigade had strong reactions on the incident, which was shared by the victim via social media.
Kareena said: "I think women are way more superior than men. We are fighters and whatever the situation might be in our life -- be it personal or professional -- we all come out as fighters.
"Like I said before, we call our god Laxmi, we pray to her and she is a woman, and when we talk about our land, we call it motherland... So, women are way more superior. We will fight out of every situation in life."
Alia urged girls to raise their voice against any injustice.
"As a woman, it feels disgusting to hear such things. Women should raise their voice against these kind of things if this is happening with them," she said at the red carpet of Lux Golden Rose Awards here on Sunday night.
Taapsee Pannu, known for the iconic film "Pink" which addressed the issue of sexual harassment, said: "I must appreciate the confidence that she has shown by putting it on social media."
Bhumi Pednekar said she was "appalled".
"She is a child. This is a problem in our culture... People think, especially if you are an actress, that you are their property and that mindset is a very big issue. I am very glad that she took a stand and spoke up about it because that needs a lot of courage. More power to her."
Actress-model Urvashi Rautela said: "It's very bad that such kind of incidents are happening in India."
Mouni Roy said: "On one hand, we talk about women empowerment and on the other hand, we see women's molestation. It's very sad. It's high time and we have to raise voice against it."
Accused in Zaira molestation sent to police custody till Dec 13
A court here, on Monday, sent to police custody till December 13, Vikas Sachdeva, who has been accused "Dangal" film's National Award winning actress Zaira Wasim of molesting her on a flight.
A handcuffed Sachdeva was taken to the Dindoshi Sessions Court in Goregaon east this afternoon and has been charged under the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences Act and other charges.
Sachdeva, 39, was arrested late on Sunday night after the molestation incident involving the minor actress enraged the nation, evoking intense reactions from politicians, women organisations and activists.
Meanwhile, his wife, Divya on Monday issued a statement in which she sought to defend her husband as innocent and that he had no intention to molest.
She told mediapersons that there was a death in the family for which he had gone and had not slept for 24 hours.
Divya claimed that he even told the Vistara Airlines crew not to disturb him as he wanted to sleep, and he had kept his foot on the arm rest, but without the intention to harass Zaira.
Zaira highlighted her ordeal on a New Delhi-Mumbai late on Saturday when the accused seated behind her moved his foot up and down her neck and back.
She narrated and broke down in a self-shot video which went viral, drawing widespread condemnation from all over India yesterday.
"I just landed, the whole irony of this that I yelled... and this is not done... this is not how you should be treated or made to feel. This is terrible.
"This is how they will take care of girls? No one will help us if we don't decide to help ourselves and that is the worst thing," she said, looking visibly disturbed.
Later, the Vistara Airlines ordered an enquiry and apologized while the Sahar Police Station in Mumbai lodged a case and later arrested Sachdeva.
The Maharashtra State Women's Commission, Shiv Sena, Bhumata Ranragini Brigade and other agencies condemned the incident, demanded a probe and action against the accused.
