A 60-year-old pilot working for a private aviation company has been accused of raping a 26-year-old cabin crew member at a five-star hotel in Bengaluru. The incident reportedly took place on November 18, according to the police. 

The accused pilot has been identified as Rohit Saran. Police said that the survivor, Rohit, and another pilot had travelled together on a chartered flight from Begumpet in Hyderabad and Puttaparthi in Andhra Pradesh. They reached Bengaluru and checked into a hotel to rest for the night, as they were scheduled to fly back to Puttaparthi the next day, November 19.

In her complaint, the woman said that Rohit took her towards his room, saying he wanted to step outside for a smoke. However, once near the room, he allegedly forced her inside and assaulted her. She said that she tried to resist, but he overpowered her and raped her inside the room.

After the incident, the survivor returned to Begumpet on November 20. She then informed the aviation company’s management about what had happened. The company advised her to file a police complaint, after which she registered a zero FIR at the Begumpet police station in Hyderabad. A zero FIR allows a complaint to be filed at any police station regardless of where the crime occurred.

The case has been registered under Section 63 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deals with the offence of rape. The police later transferred the case to Halasuru Police Station in Bengaluru, since that is where the alleged crime took place. Police officials said that further investigation is underway and necessary legal action will be taken.

The incident has caused shock within the aviation company and among employees who worked with both the survivor and the accused. The firm is cooperating with the police investigation.