In a shocking case of moral policing, around 40 couples in Mumbai were charged with "indecent public behaviour" by the Malwani police for a mere reason of checking into hotels in the vicinity of Madh Island and Aksa. Under the supervision of DCP Vikram Deshpande, raids took place in different lodges and two-star hotels in the Aksa and Madh Island vicinity around 3pm on Thursday.
According to reports, the police learnt details on room's occupants, knocked on their doors and pulled the couples out. The 40 couples were then dragged to the police station where most of them were allegedly insulted and even 'slapped' by the police personnel for being caught in such a act.
Moral policing?
A Mid-day report suggests that they were students among those charged and were forced to call their respective parents. A 19-year-old girl said that she was contemplating suicide following the humiliation.
Fined for ‘indecent behaviour in public’ in private hotel rooms
Another 21-year-old who was at the hotel with her fiancé refused to pay the fine, after which she was 'slapped' by a female police constable.
Following the fine, the couples were allowed to leave the station after five long hours of humiliation.
Mid-day report says that Senior Inspector Milind Khetale confirmed the raid and said that the consenting unmarried couples were fined around Rs 1200 under Section 110 (Indecent behaviour in public) of the Bombay Police Act and three cases were also registered under the Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act.