Chandigarh: Masseur gets 12-year rigorous imprisonment for raping British woman

Country’s motto ‘Athiti Devo Bhava’ tainted, observes fast-track court in Chandigarh while awarding jail term to UP native in December 2018 case

By committing a heinous crime, the convict has tainted the country’s motto “Athiti Devo Bhava”, observed a fast-track court while awarding 12-year rigorous imprisonment to a former employee of a five-star hotel in Chandigarh for raping a 56-year-old British woman in 2018.

The convict, Farhanuzz Zama, used to work as a masseur at Hotel Lalit, IT Park, Chandigarh, in December 2018, when he had sexually assaulted the British woman while providing her a massage at the hotel. (HT Photo)

The convict, Farhanuzz Zama, then 28 years old, used to work as a masseur at Hotel Lalit, IT Park, when he had sexually assaulted the woman while providing her a massage at the hotel.

The court also imposed a fine of ₹1 lakh on the convict, who is a native of Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, and is currently living in Sector 17, Panchkula.

“With the rise in rape and assault cases that foreign nationals face in India, a fear psychosis has been created among the tourists. Rape is not only barbaric act committed with the body of female but also leaves a scar on her mind and soul that never fades away,” observed additional and sessions judge Swati Sehgal, special judge, fast-track court, Chandigarh, after holding him guilty under Section 376 (rape) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

READ | Surat youth held for raping, impregnating 15-yr-old in Chandigarh

“The accused by committing heinous offence with the foreign national on Indian soil has also tainted the country’s motto of ’Athiti Devo Bhava’. Such an act of the accused has maligned the image of the country. He deserves to be punished sternly,” the court’s order read.

The court also recommended to the chief judicial magistrate-cum-secretary, District Legal Services Authority, to grant compensation under victim compensation scheme to the British woman.

Earlier in the court room, the convict prayed for leniency, stating that he was innocent, and had old parents and four unmarried sisters to look after. Whereas, the special public prosecutor sought stern punishment for him.

Had offered massage to woman sunbathing near hotel pool

According to the case files, the crime took place around 10.45 am on December 20, 2018, on the premises of Hotel Lalit.

The woman, who had come to the hotel with a male friend, had alleged that on the morning of December 20, they were both taking a sunbath near the hotel’s pool. There, Farhanuzz Zama, a masseur, approached her for foot and head massage.

But he touched her inappropriately above the knee while giving her the massage. When she objected, he said he was checking pressure points to help her feel relaxed. Later, he took both of them to different steam rooms.

There, he kept touching her inappropriately despite her repeated objections and sexually assaulted her, the woman had alleged. She eventually left the room when Zama stepped out for a few minutes.

The woman then gave a complaint to the hotel staff, who assured her of appropriate action, following which she had left for Shimla with her partner. But on returning to Chandigarh, she found that no police case had been registered, following which she filed a complaint with the IT Park police station on December 27, 2018.

Subsequently, Zama was booked under Section 376 of the IPC and arrested.

For over three years since, the woman participated in the trial via video conferencing from the UK.