Indian presenter and model Gauahar Khan was left audibly traumatised after a member of the audience at a TV competition she was presenting at got up and slapped her for wearing revealing clothes.

Akil Malik, 24, took offence at Khan’s cutaway outfit as she presented the grand finale of singing competition Raw Star at Film City in Goregaon, Mumbai. He then got up out of his seat to threaten and assault her live on air.

“Being a Muslim woman, she should not have worn such a short dress,” the Mumbai police quoted Malik as saying by way of explanation.

Malik was arrested and charged with molestation under Section 354 of the Indian Penal Code.

Though quite how he managed to breach tight security and make it to the stage to commit the offence remains to be clarified.

Despite the 2,500-strong people in the audience, and 250 guards present in the studio, he was still able to break the cordon and confront Khan as she was being escorted out of the venue.

According to Indian reports, Khan was left shaken by the incident, but returned to the set an hour later to continue filming.

Malik is expected to appear in Boriwali Court today.

Independent News Service