The calls, laden with expletives and sexual innuendoes, started around 9 pm, and then kept coming; the filmmaker took to social networking site to document the apathy of the helpline she called
Film director Pooja Bhatt has registered a complaint against unknown persons at Bandra Police station after allegedly being flooded with threatening, obscene phone calls.
Pooja Bhatt
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Her FIR mentions that she first received a call at 9 pm on Tuesday on her number, after which they kept on coming. The prank caller had allegedly tried calling up her father, filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt as well, but he missed the call.
“Initially I had received a call from the number, but missed it. What is striking is that the same guy managed to get Pooja’s number and abused her constantly,” her father Mahesh Bhatt told MiD DAY. Mahesh Bhatt instructed Pooja to go to the police station and file a police complaint.
“It has happened with us, tomorrow it may happen to anybody. If he abused today, he can commit a bigger crime tomorrow,” added Mahesh Bhatt. The Bhatts have uploaded details of the calls on social networking sites to create awareness among the masses.
Pooja said, “Initially, I assumed it to be a fan pulling a prank on me. But later on, abuses and sexual innuendos started and I felt like I was being stalked. I started fearing for my life as he threatened me with dire consequences for no apparent reason,” said Pooja.
“He should be arrested immediately and put behind bars. Such people can harass or molest any woman in future,” she added. When contacted, DCP Pratap Dighavkar (zone IX) said, “Pooja Bhatt got threatening calls from an unknown number on Tuesday from evening till late hours. Looking at the seriousness of matter, we have registered an FIR and are tracing the number and will make an arrest soon.”
The police have registered a complaint against unknown persons under Section 507 of the IPC for criminal intimidation by an anonymous communication, as well as Section 509 for act intended to insult the modesty of a woman.
Twitter update
Pooja Bhatt kept her fans updated about the eventful night via Twitter
>Have been getting threatening/obscene calls from +918308984111. The male voice, obviously inebriated abused me and threatened to come over.
>The plot thickens! My father got a call from the same number +918308984111 at 12.35 am. Who could this be? Someone who wants to shut us up?
>I called 100 to complain. A rude female voice on the other end asked me to go to the nearest police station, as she could not do anything. When I explained that it is close to 1 am and I could not possibly be expected to go to the police station alone she got extremely brusque. I reminded the ‘voice’ that responded to 100 that she represented a ‘help-line’ and should use the right tone. That agitated her further!
>I know today that more women being present in a police station will achieve nothing. If this can happen to me, what will happen to the meek?
>Now if only someone would ANSWER at Bandra police station. Glad it’s only a drunk threatening/abusing me and not climbing through my window!
>The tormentors have stopped calling and the protectors? Their phone still rings!
At 3 pm yesterday:
>Just got back from Bandra police station. Very pleasant experience given the circumstances. Totally neutralised apathy shown by 100.
>FIR filed. Bandra police station has been extremely efficient and courteous in every manner. Certain they will crack this faster than we know.u00a0
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