Jet Airways pilot arrested for raping air-hostess

Mumbai: A co-pilot with private air carrier Jet Airways was on Saturday arrested from Mumbai airport for allegedly raping an air-hostess on several occasions since May 2009 on the pretext of marrying her, police said.

Varun Agrawal (27) was arrested from the domestic airport at suburban Vile Parle on charges of raping the 22-year-old air-hostess, who was in a live-in relationship with him, police added.

He was booked under sections 376 (rape), 420 (cheating), 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt) and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation), they added.

Both the victim and the accused are associated with Jet Airways and hail from Uttaranchal, they said.

According to police, the accused, who joined Jet Airways in 2006, started luring the victim since 2008, a year after she joined the private air carrier.

"Expressing his love, co-pilot Varun proposed to her and asked her for marriage but she refused his proposals several times. Since he was constantly behind her, the victim finally accepted his love in 2008. She thought he was a good match as he is also from Uttaranchal like her," Asha Korke, Assistant Inspector at Powai Police Station told PTI.

"He took her to a temple one day and asked her to get engaged. He wore a ring and later convinced her to stay at his house in Ashok Tower at Military Road in Marol," Korke added.

Korke said, "The victim agreed and shifted to his house in May 2009. For a few months, things were fine. The victim's mother had also visited her and was convinced that the duo would get married soon."

However, Agrawal later started beating her up and told her to leave his house. Sometimes, he had also threatened if she left him he would throw acid on her face, the officer said.

The traumatised air-hostess had approached police on May 10 and gave a complaint against Agrawal in writing, Korke said adding the investigation was conducted and subsequently the accused was arrested after an FIR was registered against him.

The accused and the victim were taken to Nagpada Police hospital for medical tests, the officer said adding further probe was on.