Udupi police write to PADI to cancel undersea molester’s licence

 

Udupi, 12 May 2015 (TOI): Udupi police have written to Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) to cancel the diving licence given to Dhirendra Rawat, a scuba diving instructor, who allegedly molested at least three woman tourists undersea.

 

Kundapur Circle police inspector Divakar MB said: "We have sent an e-mail to the PADI body in India two days back. We are awaiting their response."

 

The e-mail to PADI explained the incident and nature of cases, and urged the body to cancel diving licence given to Rawat.

 

Meanwhile, police are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that the victims of Rawat get justice. Udupi superintendent of police K Annamalai has appointed inspector-level officer Divakar to follow up the case, apart from opening a rowdy registry against him in two police stations and banning his activities in Udupi district.

 

Rawat who had to appear in court in April second week failed to do so. A summons has been issued to him to appear in the court for the next hearing in June first week. "If he fails to appear, a non-bailable warrant will be issued against him," said the CPI.

 

The Udupi police had registered two cases of sexual molestation against him under Section 354 of IPC (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty).

 

The first case was registered in December last year in Malpe police station, in which he was arrested and was out on bail. The second case was registered in February by Byndor police station in the case of Bengaluru techie. In this case too, he was arrested and let out on bail after being remanded to judicial custody for 15 days. There was a third case, which was first in the series, but the woman has not filed a complaint.

 

The unruly behaviour of Rawat, an instructor at Dreamz Diving, Murudeshwar, came to light when an IT professional blogged about her her bitter experience at Shirur coast on January 26 this year.

 

Rawat would come to Malpe and Shirur beaches in Udupi district and take tourists off the coast to remote islands for diving. Rawat termed the acts of violating women as "just playing", according to a woman who confronted him.