Indian-origin doctor in US found not guilty of performing lewd act in front of teen on aircraft
New York, Feb 1: A 33-year-old Indian-origin doctor in the US who was accused of allegedly exposing himself and performing a lewd act next to a teenage girl onboard a flight has been acquitted, according to a media report.
Dr Sudipta Mohanty was found not guilty on Wednesday after a three-day trial in the Boston federal court, The New York Post newspaper reported.
Mohanty, an internal medicine and primary care doctor, was arrested in August last year and charged by criminal complaint with one count of lewd, indecent and obscene acts while in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the US.
Indicted in September, Mohanty opted for a bench trial, meaning he handed his case down to a judge, not a jury, the report said.
In May 2022, Mohanty, travelling with a female companion on a flight en route from Honolulu to Boston, was seated next to a 14-year-old minor travelling with her grandparents. Accusing him of masturbating until ejaculation, the minor had said that she noticed the blanket he had up to his neck had fallen and his pants were unzipped.
The minor informed family members about the incident after arriving in Boston, and subsequently, law enforcement was notified.
In a written statement, Mohanty said, "My fiance was sitting next to me on that flight, and neither of us can understand why this happened to us."
"I have dedicated my life to caring for others as a physician, and it has been heartbreaking to step away while I dealt with these false accusations," the report cited the statement.
"Dr Mohanty is a talented and dedicated medical doctor. He has absolutely no history of wrongdoing whatsoever. On the contrary, he has devoted his life to helping those in need," a statement from his attorney said.
"The last six months have been a bizarre nightmare for him, and he is relieved this is finally over so that he can rebuild his life. He is profoundly thankful that the court heard his case so promptly and that it came to this just result," the statement said.
Prosecutors said they were disappointed with the case's outcome. "Our office has no reservations about having proceeded with this case," the report quoted them as saying.
Mohanty faced up to 90 days in prison, a fine of USD 5,000, and one year of supervised release if he had been convicted.
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Caste census will form basis for future policy decision, says CM Siddaramaiah
Mysuru (Karnataka) (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said that the ongoing caste census would form the basis for future policy decisions, asserting that the exercise was crucial to advancing social justice in the state.
Addressing a gathering at the Siddarameshwara Jayanti celebrations here, he said caste enumeration was being carried out for the first time since 1931 and would be followed by deliberations once the report is submitted.
"At present, a caste census (Jaati Sameekshe) is underway. After the report comes, we will discuss it and take necessary decisions," Siddaramaiah said.
He underlined the government’s commitment to equality, stating, "We are committed to social justice. No one should face injustice. Even if not 100 per cent, we will strive to ensure 99 per cent justice."
Referring to measures aimed at addressing intra-caste disparities, the chief minister said the government had already implemented internal reservation based on revised classifications.
"We have gone beyond the Nagamohan Das report and implemented internal reservation… now it has been revised to 5.25 per cent, 5.25 per cent, and 4.5 per cent. This has been approved by the Cabinet," he said.
Siddaramaiah said the broader objective was to ensure equitable distribution of resources and opportunities, while reiterating that policy interventions would be guided by constitutional principles.
"Our objective is equal share and equal life for all," he said.
He also emphasised the role of education in eliminating inequalities, particularly among marginalised communities, and said empowerment was essential to dismantle entrenched caste hierarchies.
"Only when people gain such empowerment can caste divisions be eradicated. Education is essential for this," he added.
The CM said the government would examine demands raised by various communities and take decisions based on feasibility, while ensuring that benefits reached all sections without discrimination.
