A 39-year-old businessman has been arrested after a teenage actress took to social media and said she was molested while on a flight from Delhi to Mumbai.
17-year-old actress Zaira Wasim who has starred in big Bollywood films, most recently in Secret Superstar, said a man moved his foot up and down her back and neck.
Ms Wasim posted a video on Instagram narrating the alleged incident with tears rolling down her cheeks.
"So, I just landed and you know the whole irony of this is that the guy... this is not done at all. This is not the way, this is not a girl should be made to feel because this is terrible. Is this how they are doing to take care of girls? No one will help us if we don't decide to help ourselves. This is the worst thing," she said in a live broadcast on social media.
"He kept nudging my shoulder and continued to move his foot up and down my back and neck".
She said she tried to take a photo of the man, but couldn't get a clear shot due to dim lights.
Zaira Wasim and Aamir Khan in Dangal. Source: Dangal
"Managed to get this (shot of the molester's foot). The lights were dimmed so it was even worse. It continued for another 5-10 minutes and then I was sure of it," she posted.
She also slammed the airline for not taking a prompt action against the alleged molester. "Slow claps for Vistara's crew guys! Wonderful!" she wrote.
The airline said it is investigating the incident and has apologised to Ms Wasim.
“It appears the crew became aware of something amiss during the final descent when they were seated for landing,” Air Vistara said in a statement.
“We apologise for what Ms Wasim faced and we have zero tolerance for such behaviour.”
Police in Mumbai arrested a man in connection with the alleged incident and charged him under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences law.
President of India Ram Nath Kovind presenting the National Child Award for Exceptional Achievement 2017 to Zaira Wasim. Source: Instagram
Zaira Wasim was awarded the National Child Award for Exceptional Achievement earlier this year by India’s president Ram Nath Kovind.
