Bhubaneswar: Police arrested a businessman on Sunday for allegedly sexually assaulting a business associate at a city hotel. Police said the accused invited her to discuss their joint venture plans for a parlour and boutique on Friday and assaulted her. The accused was identified as Radhashyam Patasani (29), a native of Puri district.
The woman, who is an entrepreneur, filed a police complaint on Friday evening, alleging that Patasani sexually abused her by covering her mouth to prevent her from calling for help. According to her statement, she knew the accused for the last few months. They recently planned to establish a beauty parlour and boutique in the city. Their phone conversations included talks about equal investment and 50% share of ownership.
“Patasani requested her to meet at the hotel to finalise the business arrangement. She said that Patasani made unwanted advances despite her protests in the hotel room. He allegedly locked the room and held her hostage,” a police officer said.
As she rejected his advances, the accused threatened to harm her husband. He then forcibly silenced her, confined her in the hotel room, and sexually assaulted her, police sources said. She also alleged that he physically assaulted her and warned of severe consequences if she contacted the police.
As per the complaint, the accused fled from the hotel after he assaulted her. Subsequently, she contacted her husband and brother, who rescued her.