Mumbai Businessman Gets Jail for Misbehaving with Female Bank Officer

A magistrate’s court in Mumbai has sentenced a 54-year-old businessman to one year of rigorous imprisonment for outraging the modesty of a woman bank employee who had visited his residence for official duty. Not only sentenced jail, but the businessman has also been fined Rs.1000 by the court.

The businessman had misbehaved with the female bank employee while she visited his home for verification. The accused, Narendra Sagvekar is 54 years old. The victim is a 27-year-old deputy manager at a bank, who had gone to Sagvekar’s residence on November 27, 2020, for address verification related to his bank account application.

Sagvekar had visited the bank a day earlier to open a savings account but failed to provide a photograph. As per bank guidelines, an employee was assigned to visit his residence to verify his address.

On reaching the house at around 12:30 p.m., the woman found Sagvekar alone. After completing the required formalities, she was about to leave when Sagvekar allegedly used criminal force, kissed her on her neck and cheek, held her tightly, and touched her inappropriately. The woman managed to push him away and left the location immediately.

After escaping, the victim returned to her bank branch and narrated the incident to the branch manager, operations head, and a colleague. Later, she filed a complaint at Malad Police Station. The accused was arrested on December 17, 2020, but was released on bail two days later.

The accused said that the allegations are baseless and there was no witness at the time and place of incident.

But during the trial, the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate B.N. Chikne found the woman’s statement credible and consistent, even under cross-examination. The court noted that even though there were no eyewitnesses, the victim’s account was strong enough to hold the accused guilty.

“The woman was performing her official duty. The accused misused the situation and committed an act that amounts to moral misconduct. Such behaviour cannot be ignored just because it happened behind closed doors,” the court stated.

Next, a point was raised – Why the female employee took time to file FIR? Why was there delay in reaching to the police?

The magistrate said that panic and fear in such situations are natural, and it is common for Indian women to hesitate before taking such cases to the public eye. “The delay has been properly explained,” the judge said.

Sagvekar had tried to defend himself by claiming that the woman filed a false complaint because he didn’t agree to a savings plan she suggested, and because he didn’t respond to her ‘Hi’ message on WhatsApp. The court rejected this argument, stating that there was no motive for the woman to falsely accuse him, and the claim lacked credibility.

The accused requested court to let him off on a bond of good behaviour but the court also refused to let Sagvekar off on probation or a bond of good behaviour. “This is an offence of moral turpitude, and the accused does not deserve leniency,” the magistrate said.

A Reminder of Challenges Faced by Working Women

Even in today’s modern world, crimes against women continue to persist, especially in professional spaces where they should feel safe and respected. From verbal harassment to physical abuse, the reality is that women—no matter their age, position, or background—are still vulnerable, particularly when they are doing their jobs in unsupervised or isolated settings.

This isn’t just one woman’s story—it reflects a much deeper issue. In many jobs today, especially in banking, sales, or customer services, women are expected to go into homes, offices, and unfamiliar territories to fulfill their duties. But what happens when these spaces turn hostile?

Often, women are left to handle such risks alone. And even when they do speak up, their complaints are questioned, delayed, or dismissed. Thankfully, in this case, the woman immediately informed her colleagues and bank officials and later filed a police complaint.

This case is a wake-up call. We must do more to protect women—not just with laws, but with safe work environments, strong support systems, and a change in mindset. Employers need to provide better protection, training, and emergency protocols, especially for women involved in field duties.