Sacked driver attempts to rape TV actress

Mumbai: Television actress Ekta Tiwari, best known for her lead role in 'Tere Mere Sapne', has filed a complaint of attempted rape against her former driver, accusing him of molesting, assaulting and threatening her in her Bhayander flat on Thursday night. According to the Navghar police, Tiwari stays alone at her Naya Nagar flat in Bhayandar and had employed Mira Road resident Sajid Sayyed (26) as her driver three months ago. She fired him a fortnight back, following which he started sending her lewd messages and began stalking her.

"I required a driver and an acquaintance introduced me to Sayyed. I used to talk to him but never discussed anything personal. However, he must have misunderstood me and thought that I was attracted to him. Sayyed began falling in love with me and started acting weird. I was not comfortable with his behaviour and fired him 15 days ago. This must have hurt his ego," said Tiwari.

Tiwari had warned Sayyed to back off, but he wanted to have an affair with her. On Thursday, Tiwari was at home when Sayyed came to her building. He kept a watch the entire day and, noticing that she was alone, began shouting her name. Scared, Tiwari asked Sayyed to go, but he barged into her house instead and tried to rape her.

Rape attempt

"On Thursday, Sayyed barged into my house and grabbed my hand. I warned him to go away but he began kissing me violently. He dragged me to the bedroom and tore my clothes. I ran to the window and shouted, but he grabbed me and pushed me against the wall. I got hold of my mobile phone and dialled the number of one of my friends but Sayyed snatched the phone, dropped it on the floor and pushed me on the bed," she said.

"He was trying to rape me, but my friend and neighbours came there and saved me. They tried to nab Sayyed but he fled, threatening to kill me and them," said Tiwari.

"We are on the look out for Sayyed. He fled the scene when Tiwari's neighbours heard her cries for help and came to her rescue," said API M Shivadkar from the Navghar police station, where Tiwari filed the complaint on Friday.