Mid-Day

According to the police, Opera House-based trader Bharat Himmatlal Jhatoria (47), had stopped to relieve himself at Bhandari Street when he saw two girls playing in the vicinity. 

Taking advantage of the isolated lane, Jhatoria called the two girls and asked them to touch his private parts.

Following this, the girls got scared and shouted for help. Some locals after hearing their screams rushed to the spot and caught hold of Jhatoria. He was thrashed by locals and then handed over to the local police.

“We have booked the accused under section 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of the IPC. He was produced in a court and was later released on bail,” said senior police inspector Rajendra Chavan at VP Road police station.