Police Asked Me To Prove My Gender For Filing FIR

Mumbai: A transwoman alleged that the police had asked to produce a gender certificate before they filed an FIR in case related with alleged molestation by a 50-year old man.

She also alleged the police even called woman officers to get her medically examined. Later, the victim submitted the gender certificate to the police. Two hours after she submitted proof, the police registered an FIR and arrested the accused. The victim said even though the police wanted to help, they first wanted to ascertain her gender identity.

The victim then told the police that she was not injured but molested. "They wanted proof that I was entitled to register a molestation complaint to present in court,”-she stated. She shared the incident in social media about police action.

Also Read: Meet India’s First Transgender Cab Driver

Earlier, a 50-year-old man was arrested by the government railway police (GRP) at Mumbai Central for allegedly molesting a transgender woman. The accused has been identified as Prakash Devendra Bhatt.

However, the victim made serious allegations against the police telling that they were not cooperative in arresting the accused. According to the victim, she was "touched inappropriately" by Bhatt at Dadar station on Friday.

She was travelling from Navi Mumbai and the incident happened when she got down at the Dadar station to board the Goregaon-bound train. After the incident, she immediately raised an alarm and dragged the accused to the GRP to register a complaint.

The police said an FIR under section 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) has been registered against Bhatt. He will soon be produced before the court, police said.

Also Read: Swiggy Appoints First Transgender Employee As Part Of Gender Inclusivity