Mumbai Incident: ST Conductor Molests Woman Passenger, Angry Crowd Assaults On-Duty Staff by Mistake
In a shocking incident that unfolded on Tuesday night in Chembur's Maitri Park area, an ST (State Transport) conductor allegedly attempted to molest a 21-year-old woman traveling on a bus bound for Maloshi from Mumbai. The situation escalated when angry passengers, mistaking the bus driver for the accused, physically assaulted him.
This disturbing episode comes on the heels of an earlier incident involving a rape at Swargate bus stand, which had already caused widespread public outrage across Maharashtra.
What Actually Happened?
According to reports, the ST bus left Mumbai Central Depot on Tuesday night, heading towards Maloshi. As the bus reached the Maitri Park signal in Chembur, the accused — identified as Vilas Valmik Munde — reportedly approached the front seat, where a young woman was seated. He allegedly held her hand and began to behave inappropriately.
The woman immediately raised an alarm, prompting the driver to stop the bus. In the chaos that followed, Munde fled the scene. Unfortunately, the passengers, unaware of the actual sequence of events, confronted the on-duty driver, Manesh Tayde, and assaulted him, believing he was responsible for the misconduct.
Police and Official Response
The Govandi Police have since registered a case against Vilas Valmik Munde at the Bhoiwada Police Station, and an investigation is currently underway.
In a shocking twist, it was revealed that Munde was not on duty at the time of the incident. He had reportedly boarded the bus under the influence of alcohol and committed the act in an inebriated state. Following these revelations, transport officials confirmed that the conductor on duty was mistakenly attacked, while the actual culprit managed to escape temporarily.
Immediate Action Taken
The ST Corporation has suspended Vilas Valmik Munde with immediate effect. Officials have condemned the incident and assured strict action against any misconduct involving their staff, whether on duty or off.
This incident once again highlights the growing concern over women’s safety in public transport and the need for stronger oversight and public awareness to prevent both such crimes and the misidentification of innocent personnel.