The complaint of sexual harassment of a deaf and mute woman in Mumbai 16 years ago has revealed a horrifying truth which has shocked everyone. This single complaint has exposed a notorious predator who not only exploited many women but also hid his cruelty for a long time by intimidating and blackmailing them.
Recently, the accused was arrested on December 13 after a victim broke her silence. The suicide attempt of another woman, who was a victim of the brutality of the accused, shook the victim deeply and in the hope of justice, she came forward and narrated her ordeal.
Distressed by this incident of suicide attempt, the victim told her friends during a video call about the sexual harassment she faced in 2009.
According to the police, the victim, a resident of western suburbs, told in sign language during a video call with her friends and colleagues in the WhatsApp group that when she was a minor, the accused had drugged her and sexually assaulted her.
She also told the whole thing to her husband. After this, with the help of ‘Thane Deaf Association’ president Vaibhav Ghasis, social worker Mohammad Farhan Khan, sign language interpreter Madhu Keni and Ali Yawar Jung, a retired officer of the National Institute of Speech and Hearing Disabled, the victim contacted the police.
The victim, her husband and some friends went to Kurar police station, where their statement was recorded on camera. Keni played the role of interpreter and accused Mahesh Pawar was arrested a few hours later from suburban Virar in Palghar district.
According to officials, recalling the painful experience she faced 16 years ago, the victim said that in July 2009, one of her female friends took her with her on the pretext of taking a tour of the city and brought her to Pawar’s house in Vakola area of Santa Cruz.
It is alleged that Pawar gave samosas and a beverage to his female friend on the pretext of celebrating her birthday. According to the victim, she was forcefully given a drink in which the accused had allegedly mixed intoxicants. After some time, her friend left the place and left her alone with the accused.
The accused allegedly raped her and later recorded a video of the heinous act and blackmailed her. This series of fear and threats remained the reason for his silence for a long time.
The deep trauma of this persecution remained with him for years. However, the suicide attempt of another woman from the community gave her the courage to come forward and reveal the truth. It is alleged that another woman from the community was also sexually harassed by Pawar.
A senior police officer said that the investigation has revealed that the accused used to sexually exploit many deaf and dumb women by giving them intoxicants and blackmailing them through obscene videos and forcing them to remain silent.
The officer said the accused allegedly made obscene videos of several women, using which he blackmailed them and extorted money, gold and mobile phones from them.
The accused allegedly forced the women to make video calls in the nude and used these recordings to threaten them, the officer said.
“As per preliminary investigation, we have evidence of seven women being sexually assaulted by the man, but the number could be more than 24,” the officer told PTI.
He said that Pawar has been sent to judicial custody, but till now no other woman has filed a complaint against him.
Interpreter Keni told PTI-Bhasha that all the women who were victims of Pawar’s exploitation and harassment want to lodge a complaint.
He claimed that the accused had extorted money from an exploited woman, but did not return the money even when she needed it for a medical emergency.
