In Chennai, Uber Driver Gets Arrested For Sexually Assaulting Journalist Student, Police Says She Can’t File FIR As No Lady Officers Were Present
As a woman, I don’t like to travel in auto rickshaws and cabs alone at night because it is quite dangerous. And if you are someone who thinks I am just exaggerating, then you should read this Twitter thread. In Chennai, an uber auto driver was arrested after he sexually assaulted a journalist student. The student narrated the whole incident on Twitter.
In a Twitter thread, the journalist student named Ishita Singh mentioned that she and her friend had booked the Uber autorickshaw ride from a restaurant to a hotel in Semmancheri. When she was stepping out of this auto and her friend was paying for the ride, the accused driver identified as Selvam Gothamdam touched her inappropriately. Sharing a few pictures, she wrote, “I’m a student journalist at @ACJIndia, Chennai. An Uber Auto driver named Selvam sexually assaulted me by pressing my right breast, near Ibis OMR Hotel, when my friend and I returned from East Coast Madras to the hotel,” and tagged the Tamil Nadu Police.
I’m a student journalist at @ACJIndia, Chennai.
An @Uber Auto driver named Selvam ,sexually assaulted me by pressing my right breast, near Ibis OMR Hotel, when my friend and I returned from East Coast Madras to the hotel.@PoliceTamilnadu pic.twitter.com/jJMhx4zk5j— Ishita Singh (@ishitasingh19_) September 25, 2022
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The Twitter user added that the accused driver fled from the spot after she raised an alarm. Following the incident, she dialled the police but there was no response. However, a police officer along with a man came to the hotel after 30 minutes. But he told them that they have to wait till morning to file an FIR against the driver because no lady officers were present at the station.
In another tweet, she mentioned that she wrote an application instead of an FIR outside the police station. She added that the police ask you to file an application instead of an FIR in order to suppress the matter and to avoid the workload. The woman mentioned that she filed an online FIR against the driver.
After waiting for 30 mins, an inspector along with a man came to the hotel to investigate. He asked us to wait till the morning to file an FIR , as there was NO lady officer at the station. “It’s an order by the government” he said, when asked about the lady officer. pic.twitter.com/zvXlkeUKFY
— Ishita Singh (@ishitasingh19_) September 25, 2022
I had to file the complaint outside the station. Also, the station incharge gave us an A4 sheet to write an application instead of an FIR. (Usually, the Police ask you to file an application instead of an FIR, to suppress the matter and to avoid the work load). @vijaypnpa_ips pic.twitter.com/3JsifnjeVB
— Ishita Singh (@ishitasingh19_) September 25, 2022
The details of the auto driver are as mentioned :-
Full Name – Selvam Gothandam.
Transaction id on PhonePay- (t2209252223415079516216 selvam.G14@ybl , icici bank)
Uber Number : (+91443579307) @PoliceTamilnadu @vijaypnpa_ips pic.twitter.com/5Vps0mhJur— Ishita Singh (@ishitasingh19_) September 25, 2022
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Furthermore, the journalist student mentioned that the incident was so traumatic that she and her friend still cannot process it and she will never forget the driver’s face.
As per the evidences, he’s punishable under section 354 and 506 of IPC. It was so traumatic that my friend and I still cannot process it. The fact that he had the audacity to ‘smirk’ while I was screaming at him.I don’t think I can ever forget his face. @ACJIndia
— Ishita Singh (@ishitasingh19_) September 25, 2022
The student journalist said that the accused driver was arrested, and his auto along with CCTV footage was seized.
Update – The accused’s auto and CCTV footage was seized by the @COPTBM, following his arrest, yesterday night.
I thank @COPTBM @tnpoliceoffl, DCP Joshua, ACP Sudarshan, ACP Riazuddin and Srinivasan for taking the necessary actions.
I also thank @ACJIndia for their cooperation.— Ishita Singh (@ishitasingh19_) September 27, 2022
The incident proves why taxis, cabs, and autos are such a nightmare for women. We hope the culprit gets severely punished.
