Off-Duty Drunk ST Bus Conductor Assaults Female Passenger in Govandi; FIR Registered

Mumbai, April 10:A Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) conductor was suspended for allegedly molesting a female passenger on a bus in Govandi, Mumbai. The incident occurred on the night of April 8, when the victim, a 21-year-old woman, was traveling from Lalbaug to Satara to drop off her grandmother.

According to reports, the conductor, who was reportedly drunk, molested the victim while she was seated on the first seat of the bus. The assault took place around 8:30 PM when the bus left Mumbai Central depot. The conductor, who had completed his duty on the same bus, was traveling to his home in Navi Mumbai when the incident occurred in the Maitri Park area of Chembur.

The conductor, identified as Vilas Munde, allegedly grabbed the woman's hand and behaved rudely with her. The victim immediately shouted for help, causing the conductor to flee the scene. Passengers on board the bus, angered by the incident, beat up the on-duty conductor for failing to prevent the assault. They also stopped the bus from continuing its journey until the case was reported to the authorities.

An FIR was filed at the Govandi police station, and the case was later transferred to Bhoiwada police station. The MSRTC has since suspended Munde, and officials have announced that the process of registering a case is underway.

In a statement, MSRTC Vice Chairman and Managing Director Dr. Madhav Kusekar assured that, due to the seriousness of the incident, CCTV cameras would soon be installed in all buses, both new and old, to ensure passenger safety.

The investigation into the incident is ongoing, and further action will be taken once all details are verified.