07 January,2016 08:45 AM IST | | Shiva Devnath
Singer Vandana Vadehra was returning to her home in Aarey Colony from the Mumbai airport at 1 am when a policeman stopped the cab she was travelling in and insulted her
A 35-year-old woman residing in Aarey Colony complained that a local constable insulted and misbehaved with her, going as far as to say she looked like a prostitute. The police have taken note of her complaint and are now conducting a probe.
Vandana Vadehra claimed that the cop thought she was a foreigner because of her light complexion and hair
Vandana Vadehra is a singer from Delhi who is currently living in a rented flat at the Royal Palms neighbourhood in Aarey. She encountered the constable in the wee hours yesterday, as she was returning home from the airport around 1 am.
After recent reports of sexual assaults in the heavily forested Aarey Colony, the police had set up a check post at Aarey naka. It was here that Vandana's cab was flagged down by the constable, who introduced himself as Hemant Sawant.
At first, he only asked the cab driver questions about who he was, where he was going, etc. Things got ugly when the constable spotted Vandana.
"He saw my light hair and complexion and assumed that I am a foreigner. He began to ask me questions, and demanded to see my ID and address proof. I kept telling him I am a resident of Aarey, and that he could come along to verify this, but he said he knew very well what kind of people live there," said the 35-year-old.
"He then told me that there were many bachelors who live in Royal Palms who seek services from prostitutes. He said I even looked like one," added vandana.
Upon hearing this, she got offended and began recording the exchange. This caused Sawant to abuse her further.
He finally stopped when Vandana said he had no right to stop a woman on the road in the dead of night. When she demanded to speak to a female cop, Sawant let her go.
"I decided to approach the police and complain about the constable. I submitted a written complaint to the police, seeking strict action against the man who misbehaved with a woman travelling alone in the night," said Vandana, adding, "The police are supposed to make us feel safe, but I am more scared of cops now."
"Since the constable belongs to the Aarey Milk Colony police station, I will ask officers from another police station to investigate the case. If found guilty, the cop will face action," said M Ramkumar, deputy commissioner of police (zone XII).
