Indian-Origin Man Charged With Sexual Assault On Airplane In US

An Indian-origin man has been charged with sexual assault on a airplane, in keeping with US federal officers. 

Bhaveshkumar Dahyabhai Shukla is accused of “abusive sexual contact” on a flight from Montana to Texas, Montana federal prosecutor Kurt Alme mentioned in an announcement final week.

He mentioned Shukla is to seem in courtroom there on April 17.

He was arrested in New Jersey, the place he lives, and agreed to be moved to Montana to face the prosecution.

Court docket paperwork seen by IANS mentioned that Shukla, 36, was arrested after the alleged sufferer’s husband complained to legislation enforcement when she despatched him a textual content message in regards to the alleged assault.

With the tip-off, he was met on the airport by airport police.

In an affidavit filed within the Montana federal courtroom, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Particular Agent Chad McNiven mentioned that in the course of the flight from Belgrade, Montana, to Dallas, Texas, on January 26, Shukla allegedly touched the lady inappropriately on two events.

McNiven mentioned that the alleged sufferer instructed the FBI that he first touched “her thighs, butt, and decrease again space” and stopped when she protested.

However when she returned from a visit to the lavatory, he mentioned that in keeping with the criticism recorded by the airport police, she mentioned he “rubbed” her in these areas and her vagina utilizing his coat to attempt to conceal his motion.

The alleged assault was corroborated by one other passenger, McNiven mentioned.

He mentioned that the alleged sufferer texted her husband in regards to the assault, and he known as the FBI and the airport police.

When confronted by police, Shukla claimed to not converse English, though he had spoken to the lady and her daughter in English, McNiven mentioned.

Nonetheless, when he was produced in a federal courtroom in New Jersey, the place he lives, after his arrest, a Gujarati interpreter was used, in keeping with a courtroom doc.