Indian Doctor accused of mid-air sexual harassment by US woman, complaint lodged

Chennai: A 36-year-old woman has filed a complaint of sexual harassment against a doctor from Thanjavur, accusing him of groping her during their flight to the city from Dubai.

The Tamil Nadu Police are seeking legal opinion over the complaint filed by the Non-Resident Indian (NRI) woman against the doctor from Chennai who is based in Dubai. 

The incident occurred on Saturday and the United States-based woman who is now in Tamil Nadu filed the complaint on Tuesday. The woman had tweeted about the incident and said that she was not proceeding with the case as the accused doctor had apologized. However, she filed a police complaint on Tuesday. 

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A police officer who is investigating the case said that the woman alerted the cabin crew after the incident and informed the airport police. The police took the passport of the Dubai-based doctor into custody and questioned him but he was let off as there was no complaint lodged till Tuesday. 

A senior police officer told The New Indian Express, "The woman then alerted the cabin crew and his passport was seized. After the plane landed in Chennai, the passport was handed over to airport police," adding, "We are consulting a legal team since the offence took place mid-air. We do not want any miscommunication over jurisdiction. Further investigation is on."

The police officer said that they are seeking a legal opinion as the alleged incident took place mid-air and that they don't want any miscommunication over jurisdiction. The man has been questioned, but no case has been filed so far. 

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