Ex-Mumbai BJYM chief Pandey booked for molesting woman member

Mumbai, Mar 30: An FIR was registered today against former Mumbai unit president of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, Ganesh Pandey for allegedly molesting a woman member of the BJP's youth wing at an event earlier this month.

The FIR was registered late evening at Versova police station on the complaint of the woman who alleged that Pandey harassed her by posing to her obscene questions and passing lewd remarks inside a hotel room in Mathura on March 4 during the BJYM's three-day executive committee meeting.

In her written complaint to BJP city unit president Ashish Shelar, the woman had stated that Pandey also "held her hand" when she tried to leave the room. According to police, the woman alleged in her complaint that Pandey had texted her several messages which were in a "bad taste".

Police said Pandey was booked under appropriate section of IPC on the woman's complaint. The BJYM leader had denied the allegation against him by terming it as a fallout of a "political conspiracy" and internal bickering in the BJYM.

After the woman gave the written complaint to Shelar on March 22, he dissolved the Mumbai unit of BJYM. The issue was raised in state Legislative Council by women legislators yesterday, following which Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced a probe by the State Women's Commission.

PTI