Indian American Doctor Arrested for Lewd Conduct on Flight with Minor: FBI Takes Action
Indian American Doctor Arrested for Allegedly Masturbating in Front of Minor on a Flight to Boston. If proven guilty, he could face jail time, supervised release, and a fine of up to $5,000. Authorities are urging victims to report similar incidents.
An Indian American doctor living in Cambridge, Massachusetts, has been arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for allegedly masturbating in front of a 14-year-old girl on a flight from Hawaii to Boston last year.
The incident occurred during a Hawaiian Airlines flight on May 27, 2022, when Dr. Sudipta Mohanty, aged 33, reportedly exposed himself and engaged in inappropriate conduct in the presence of the young girl.
The teenager stated that approximately 5 hours into the flight, Mohanty covered himself with a blanket, but she noticed his leg bouncing up and down. Shortly after, the blanket slipped, revealing that his pants were unzipped and exposing his genitals.
Disturbed and uncomfortable, the girl promptly moved to a different seat and informed her family about the incident after the flight arrived in Boston. Subsequently, law enforcement became involved. Mohanty was released following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston, but if proven guilty, he could face a jail sentence of up to 90 days, along with a year of supervised release and a fine of up to $5,000.
Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy emphasized that everyone, especially children, has the right to not be exposed to lewd conduct while traveling. The arrest sends a clear message that the FBI takes crimes committed on aircraft seriously, encompassing offenses ranging from alleged sexual misconduct to assault, interference with flight crew, and theft.
According to charging documents, Mohanty is an internal medicine and primary care doctor with a practice in Boston. He was allegedly seated next to the minor on the flight, with her grandparents seated nearby. The FBI's arrest of Mohanty adds to the growing number of incidents involving indecent acts committed onboard flights.
The FBI urged people to contact them if they experience similar incidents on flights and received praise from social media users for taking action in this case. Mohanty denied committing the act, stating, "I have no recollection of that.” The investigation continues, highlighting the seriousness with which such incidents are being treated by law enforcement agencies.