A Boston doctor has been arrested and charged after allegedly engaging in lewd behavior and exposing himself in the presence of a 14-year-old girl during a flight.
Dr. Sudipta Mohanty, a 33-year-old primary care physician at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, was apprehended following an incident on a Hawaiian Airlines flight from Honolulu to Boston on May 27, 2022.
According to federal prosecutors, the teenage girl, who was seated next to Mohanty, observed him covering himself with a blanket that reached up to his neck. She then noticed his leg bouncing up and down. Shortly after, the girl saw that the blanket had fallen to the floor, revealing that Mohanty was allegedly masturbating.
Prosecutors further state that the minor witnessed Mohanty's pants unzipped, exposing his genitals. Disturbed by the situation, the girl relocated to an empty seat for the remainder of the flight.
The court filing also mentions that Mohanty was accompanied by a female "companion" with whom he engaged in small talk. The conversation reportedly consisted of basic questions such as their favorite colors, which the girl found peculiar.
Mohanty is now facing charges of lewd, indecent, and obscene acts. When questioned by an FBI agent on May 6, he denied the allegations, claiming to have no recollection of the incident.
Christopher DiMenna, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division, expressed strong condemnation of Mohanty's alleged actions. DiMenna emphasized the seriousness with which the FBI treats crimes committed aboard aircraft, including sexual misconduct, assault, interference with flight crew, and theft. He urged victims or witnesses of such crimes to report them to both the flight crew and the FBI.
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, where Mohanty is employed, acknowledged the allegations against him. A spokesperson for the medical center stated that Mohanty is currently on leave and not practicing. The hospital declined to provide further comment on personnel matters.
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