Oshiwara-based stylist alleges that cop threatened to tell her neighbours she was raped if she did not pay Rs 50,000; accused denies allegations, calls complainant ‘notorious’

An Oshiwara-based stylist, who has registered a case of rape at the Oshiwara police station, says she has now fallen victim to constant harassment and extortion from the investigating officer in her case.



The woman alleges PI Parmeshwar Ganame showed her pornographic images and asked her to idenitfy the sexual positions

She alleges that the cop showed her pornographic images in the name of registering her FIR and later asked for Rs 50,000 for not telling anyone about the case.

The woman registered an online complaint against the said police officer yesterday and is still awaiting response from the police department.

The woman says the investigating officer (IO) of her case, Police Inspector (Crime) Parmeshwar Ganame would ask her obscene and derogatory questions under the pretext of investigation.

“Since the police plans to add Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code in my complaint, the IO would show me pornographic images on his cell phones asking me to recognise the sexual positions, under the pretext of taking my statements.”

After showing the images and referring to unnatural sex, Ganame would ask the woman, “Tum log kaise karte hai sab kuch, meri wife toh yeh sab karne se rahi (how did you manage to do all of that, my wife is too reluctant for this),” thus embarrassing the victim.

The woman was raped by her former partner, Pratik Bhrambhatt. She met him on Facebook in March 2015 and befriended him. The couple was in a relationship soon after. Later, Bhrambhatt — who hails from Gujarat — had come to Mumbai and the former couple had even filled a form at the marriage court to start a life together. Soon after, Bhrambhatt demanded a physical relationship, which the woman refused. Post her refusal, the accused had sex with her under the pretext of marriage.

Ever since, the accused had been forcing her to sell her Oshiwara flat and settle down with him. He also allegedly stole the woman’s cash and fled to his hometown. Following this incident, the woman registered an FIR against him in January. The accused was arrested from Gujarat.

After his arrest, when Bhrambhatt came face to face with the woman at a court hearing, he and his mother attacked the woman.

The woman registered a second FIR in the matter yesterday.

Extortion bid

However, after the woman registered her rape complaint, the pornographic images were the mere beginning to a series of harassing actions by Ganame, who allegedly started pestering her to cough up R50,000 for the expenses incurred while filing the rape complaint.

“Ganame said he had spent around Rs 50,000 in making the case papers, which includes photocopies and ferrying the accused to JJ Hospital, court and police station. But, when I opposed his move, he started threatening me by calling me to the police station frequently,” says the designer.

“Finally, I succumbed to his demands and coughed up Rs 6,000 to guard my identity. But, his greed to extract money continued and so did his demands,” she added. Ganame also allegedly threatened to disclose the woman’s identity as a rape victim in front of her society members. A recording of this conversation is in mid-day’s possession.

“Ganame went to the extent of visiting my building premises in uniform with two of his associates, and quizzed the security guard about me. Later, he called me and said he has come to my building. When I pleaded with him to not do so, he bluntly said he was here for an investigation and no one can stop him.”

The woman says she broke down and warned him she would end her life.

‘Notorious woman’

When mid-day spoke to Ganame, he said, “She is a very notorious woman. She has been making random allegations against people left, right and centre. Some time ago, she accused the courts too, when they failed to deliver a judgement in her favour. She has been making abrupt demands from me. She wants me to remain present in court for every hearing, which is not possible. Since I refused to succumb to her demands, she has been making allegations against me.”

He added that, “The woman comes to the police station and creates a ruckus here. She beats up the accused and his family members inside the police station. In the past too, she has been booked by our police station in some case.” When mid-day informed Ganame about certain voice recordings the woman has, in which he can be heard making the demands, Ganame added, “I have not said anything of the sort.”