On 20th September, the multinational restaurant aggregator and online food delivery platform Zomato issued a statement in the case of a food delivery agent molesting a teenager. However, they also added another interesting piece of information that is worth noting. Read on to know everything about what happened in Pune and what Zomato has to say about the matter.
19-year-old girl molested by a food delivering agent in Pune
On September 17 a petrifying incident took place in Pune. A 19-year-old girl placed an order on the app called Zomato. The delivery agent, went with the order, around 9.30 pm. When he reached there he asked for water from the 19-year-old girl and therefore got inside the house.
When she returned, he grabbed her by the arm and kissed her twice, said a senior inspector of Kondhwa Police station. He left as she resisted and later sent her messages saying he was “like her uncle”.
The area police in charge further added that they managed to arrest the 40-year-old accused.
Maharashtra | Pune City Police arrested a food delivery man for allegedly molesting a girl in Yewalewadi; later released on bail
Girl alleges she ordered on Zomato, Raees Shaikh came for delivery&asked for water. When she gave him water, he pulled her close&molested her: Police
— ANI (@ANI) September 20, 2022
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The current state of the 19-year-old victim girl
After the incident came to the light the 19-year-old victim girl was not in the state to have a conversation with the media. As per the reports of NDTV, the victim’s landlord said and we quote,
“She is very petrified and tensed. After the incident, we counseled her and helped her go to the police so that no one can dare do such a thing again.”
A police officer added that,
“These apps need to carry out proper character verification and background check before working with anyone.”
There are several young students who are living alone without their families in several areas of Pune. The officer said,
“They should be careful while trusting anyone, especially when they are alone and at night. They should have their friends’ or police’s phone numbers saved in their mobiles for emergency situations.”
After the complaint was filed the accused is charged with sexual harassment under sections 354 and 354A of the Indian Penal Code. The accused is identified as Raees Shaikh. Further investigations over the matter are still ongoing.
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What Does Zomato Have To Say Over The Matter?
Zomato issued a statement where they clarified that they have no forbearance towards wrongdoers and that they are in complete cooperation with the authorities in the investigation process. However, they further added that the delivery agent did not work for them. Zomato said and we quote that,
“The accused is not a Zomato delivery partner. We have been in touch with the authorities to cooperate with the investigation. We conduct third-party background verifications while onboarding any person to our fleet and have a zero-tolerance policy.”
The accused is not a Zomato delivery partner. We have been in touch with the authorities to cooperate with the investigation. We conduct third-party background verifications while onboarding any person to our fleet and have a zero-tolerance policy: Zomato https://t.co/F7MBg0o1U0 pic.twitter.com/szDtGmcidP
— ANI (@ANI) September 20, 2022
They said that the company would corporate in the probe as needed.
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