British woman rape case: One held

CHANDIGARH: Police on Monday arrested a 28-year-old man in the British woman rape case. Farhanuz Zama, working as a hair stylist in a five-star hotel, was caught from Kishangarh chowk. Zama, who hails from Bijnor in Uttar Pradesh, was living in Mauli Jagran. Police said teams were deputed in UP and Delhi to arrest the accused.

The incident took place on December 20. Police said the woman was staying in the hotel with her male friend. The accused went absconding soon after the incident.

In her complaint, the woman alleged the accused touched her private parts while giving her a foot massage. She reported the matter to hotel officials and left for Shimla. The hotel sacked the accused. On December 25, the woman returned to the city and lodged a formal complaint at the IT Park police station the next day. She said she was not aware about the legal procedure and after taking opinion from her friends, she filed the complaint.

Police recorded her statement and conducted her medical examination and immediately sent the team of cops to Uttar Pradesh to his native place. The accused also switched off his mobile phone soon after the incident.

The woman came to the country on a tourist visa with her male friend and both were staying in the hotel for a week, cops said.

Harjit Kaur, DSP, east division, said the woman was not raped and the accused touched her private parts while massaging her. Police, however, registered a case against the accused under Section 376 (rape) of the IPC.