New Delhi: A SpiceJet staff member alleged that she was sexually harassed by an Assistant Sub-Inspector of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) on Thursday following which she slapped him. The staff had slapped the official at the Jaipur Airport and a video of the incident had gone viral on social media.
The woman said CISF personnel Giriraj Prasad had sexually assaulted her and threatened to take her job.
Speaking to ANI on Saturday, the SpiceJet staff said, “I report for duty at the same time. Like every day, at 4:30am on 11th July, I was doing my work when ASI Giriraj Prasad came and said, ‘Give us a chance to take care of you (Humey bhi apna seva-paani ka mauka do)’. Then, when I asked him to call a lady constable for frisking. He again said, 'How much money will you charge for a night (Ek raat rukne ka kya logi)'.”
She added, “He said, ‘Listen to me, you'll feel better. Your work will get done quickly.’ I told him that I would file a police complaint against you to which he said ‘You can’t do anything to me. I have seen a lot of women like you, I'll get you fired. (Tumhare jaisi bazaaru aurat maine bohot dekhi hai, tumhey naukri se nikalwa dunga.)'”
#WATCH | Jaipur, Rajasthan: A SpiceJet employee seen hitting security personnel in a viral video alleges that “At 4:30 am on 11th July, I was doing my work when ASI Giriraj Prasad said ‘humey bhi apna seva-paani ka mauka do’, ‘ek raat rukne ka kya logi’…I told him that I would… https://t.co/6pYzPauFxhpic.twitter.com/A2Gbal1R2p
— ANI (@ANI) July 13, 2024
The SpiceJet employee was arrested after ASI Prasad filed a complaint, stating that she slapped him during an argument about security screening at the airport.
“The woman has been arrested and her statement is being taken. The woman has also lodged a complaint. We are verifying the facts following which appropriate action will be taken,” DCP Kavendra Singh said.
Speaking about ASI's complaint, she said, “He filed a complaint against me before I did. I have not complained anywhere else except to the police.”
STORY | SpiceJet employee slaps CISF man in argument over security check at Jaipur airport, arrestedREAD: https://t.co/snXzE4ANsxVIDEO: (Source: Third Party) pic.twitter.com/MdfwNVKtDA
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 11, 2024
What SpiceJet Said
After the incident occurred, SpiceJet issued a statement saying, “Today, an unfortunate incident occurred at Jaipur Airport involving a SpiceJet female security staff member and a male CISF personnel. While escorting a catering vehicle at the steel gate, our female security staff member, who had a valid airport entry pass issued by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), India’s civil aviation security regulator, was subjected to inappropriate and unacceptable language by the CISF personnel, including asking her to come and meet him after his duty hours at his home."
It added, "SpiceJet is taking immediate legal action in this serious case of sexual harassment against its female employee and has approached the local police. We stand firmly by our employee and are committed to providing her with full support.”
Advocate Deepak Chouhan, representing the SpiceJet Airlines employee has stated that his client was 'sexually harassed' by the police personnel, which led to her slapping him.
"The SpiceJet employee has been arrested. She was sexually harassed by the CISF ASI at Jaipur Airport. Abusive words were used against her, which caused her to lose her cool and slap the CISF officer. This was her natural response to the incident."
The advocate further emphasized that the female employee had not displayed such behaviour in the past.
"In court FIR, we have mentioned that the woman had not displayed such behaviour in the past. Had this been her usual behavior, such incidents would have come to light earlier. However, this is a matter of investigation," said Advocate Chouhan.