Cab driver held for molesting 14-yr-old

HC to state: Respond to plea on disability quota vacancies

- Vinay Dalvi

MUMBAI: A 23-year-old Uber driver has been arrested for allegedly harassing and molesting a 14-year-old girl while taking her from Dadar to her residence in Powai.

The accused, identified as Shreyansh Pandey, allegedly kept staring at the girl throughout the journey, took several different routes instead of the regular one to her house, tried touching her on the pretext of seeing her phone, kept asking her if she wanted a cigarette, and even stopped at an isolated place claiming that the vehicle had broken down.

The incident occurred on Tuesday, when the 14-year-old girl was returning home from a summer camp in Dadar, according to an officer from the Dadar police station.

"After the camp ended on Tuesday, her father booked an Uber for her around 4.30 pm. The driver was supposed to drop her off at Powai. Instead, he took her to the Eastern Express Highway and from there to various narrow lanes to confuse her. He stopped at one isolated spot, claiming there was a problem with the vehicle, and even started making rounds of the vehicle," said the police officer.

Later, under the pretext of inquiring about her mobile phone, the driver allegedly touched the minor girl inappropriately.