Mumbai: The man accused of molesting a Bollywood teen actor during a Vistara Delhi-Mumbai flight has told police his leg touched the star unintentionally and that he even apologised to her after she raised an alarm.
39-year-old Vikas Sachdev, who stays in Mumbai’s Andheri suburb, also said he was returning from Delhi after attending a funeral and was really tired while on the flight as he hadn’t slept in a long time.
And so, Vikas said, he asked the cabin crew not to disturb him during the flight and chose not to eat his meal as he wanted to sleep throughout the flight. Vikas’s claims match a portion of the official statement given by Vistara to the Mumbai Police, which is investigating the alleged molestation.
According to Vikas, he apologised to the actor after finding out that his leg had touched her shoulder, an act he said was unintentional. Vikas’ wife Divya, supported her husband’s claim.
“My husband was coming home from Delhi. His mamaji (maternal uncle) had passed away and he was not in the right frame of mind. He was feeling very low and asked for a blanket. He wanted to sleep. I am shocked at (the actor’s) allegation. The police have taken my husband into custody,” Divya said.
The actor, who appeared in the sports-drama Dangal, had earlier alleged that she was molested while on a flight from Delhi to Mumbai. Vikas was detained by the Mumbai police after the actor gave her statement to the police.
A case under the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act and Indian Penal Code Section 354 (assault with intention to outrage a woman’s modesty) was registered against Vikas Sachdev. The POSCO act was invoked since the actor is a minor.
According to sources, after the incident, came to light a team of three Vistara officials flew to Mumbai from Delhi to take note of the incident. A meeting between the teen actor and the officials was organised at a hotel in Mumbai. The meeting went on for over an hour where the star narrated the incident in front of the Vistara officials.
The star’s mother was present during the meeting.
