In a recent incident, a 36-year-old chef employed at a hotel in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, has found himself in legal trouble. The police have initiated a case against the chef based on accusations of molestation and stalking lodged by a 26-year-old woman colleague. The victim, who joined the hotel as a pastry supervisor four months ago, alleges that the accused, a junior chef at the same establishment, attempted to get close to her under the pretext of a dispute with his wife. According to the victim’s complaint, he inappropriately touched her.
The woman, distressed by the unwarranted advances, sought assistance from a local political party unit and subsequently lodged a formal complaint with the police. Acting on her complaint, the Turbhe police registered a case against the accused under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 354 (assault or criminal force to a woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354D (stalking), and 506 (criminal intimidation). The legal proceedings will now unfold as the authorities investigate the matter further.