US national 'molested' by spa masseur

Times of India
New Delhi

14 May 2008, TNN

NEW DELHI: A 38-year-old foreign national was allegedly molested inside a spa at a five-star hotel in upscale Vasant Vihar area of south-west Delhi. The police have registered a case of molestation and arrested the accused person.
The victim, who is a US national, stays with her husband at Vasant Vihar. On Monday, she had a booking at the hotel for a spa treatment. As a senior police officer says: "The woman had gone for a head massage at the spa and claims she was molested by a massaeur there."
This year, 200 cases of molestation have already been reported in the Capital. The figure was as high as 850 last year. That a woman was molested inside a spa at an upscale neighbourhood has only reinforced the city’s unsafe image.
The victim has said in her complaint: "While the masseur was giving me a head massage, he started molesting me. As I was in semi-conscious state, he continued his act. After a while, another person entered the room, on which he threw a towel on me. The other person went outside, but I woke up."
"The masseur began massaging my head again, and once more, he molested me. But this time, I caught him and screamed at him. I also informed the staff at the spa centre about the incident," the woman claims. The accused, identified as Amir (22), allegedly also abused the victim when she protested. According to police, Amir has been working at the spa for the past one year. He stays with his family in Gurgaon.
The police later arrested Amir and lodged a case against him under sections 354 (molestation) and 509 (for outraging the modesty of a woman using foul words). He was later granted bail by a city court.
The woman refused to undergo any medical test, said the police. She has been staying in India for the past few years and runs a business here along with her husband.