Cadila Pharma CMD Booked for Alleged Rape, Assault on Bulgarian Woman

In a significant development, the Ahmedabad Police have registered a case against the Chairman and Managing Director of Cadila Pharmaceuticals, Rajiv Modi, following a high court directive. The action comes in response to a complaint filed by a Bulgarian woman who had joined the company as a flight attendant and later alleged rape, assault, and intentional insult.

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High Court's Intervention

The Gujarat High Court, in its order dated December 22, 2023, directed the police to register an FIR and conduct an investigation into the matter. The court's intervention came after the complainant approached the HC seeking directions for the registration of an FIR against Rajiv Modi and action against police officials for not taking action on her complaint.

FIR Registered Under IPC Sections

Acting on the high court's directive, the Sola police station in Ahmedabad registered an FIR against Rajiv Modi and another person identified as Johnson Matthew. The case was registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including Section 376 (rape), Section 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), and Section 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace).

Investigation Underway

The police have clarified that their role is limited to investigating the matter and submitting a report to the high court. Deputy Commissioner of Police Lavina Sinha stated that an FIR was registered based on an inquiry conducted under Section 156(3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) as per the court's direction. The investigation will be carried out under the supervision of a senior IPS officer nominated by the Deputy Inspector General Law and Order and must be completed within two months, as per the high court's order.

Complainant's Allegations

In her complaint, the Bulgarian woman alleged that she came to India on November 24, 2022, for a job as a flight attendant with Cadila Pharmaceuticals. However, her job profile was changed, and she was assigned to work as a butler-personal attendant to the CMD. She alleges that during the course of her job, she faced sexual harassment and was removed from her position on April 3, 2023, for not complying with the "illicit demands" of the accused.

Magistrate Court's Dismissal

The complainant further stated that despite approaching the police with her complaint, they failed to initiate an investigation or register an FIR. She also approached a magistrate court with a private complaint against the accused, but it was dismissed. The high court observed that the magistrate was duty-bound to send the complaint for police investigation under Section 156(3) of the CrPC, as the offenses were cognizable.

The registration of the FIR against the CMD of Cadila Pharmaceuticals marks a significant development in the case. The investigation, supervised by a senior IPS officer, is expected to shed light on the allegations made by the complainant. The outcome of the investigation will be crucial in determining the course of legal proceedings and ensuring justice in the matter.