Kerala student asks for free ticket, bus conductor questions her gender; case filed

Police have registered a case against a Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) conductor for allegedly insulting a Plus Two student by questioning her gender and issuing her a ticket on a Priyadarshini bus, where women are entitled to travel free of charge, near Kochi, officials said on Monday.

The conductor, Mahesh, has also been suspended following a preliminary inquiry by the KSRTC Vigilance wing. Police said a case was registered on Sunday under Sections 296 and 79 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and an investigation is under way.

Mahesh, however, denied insulting the student and said the incident was a misunderstanding.

According to police, the incident took place on Saturday when the girl and her friends boarded the bus operating from North Paravur to Kochi. The student had tonsured her head after visiting a temple and was wearing a T-shirt and jeans.

Police said the conductor allegedly mistook her for a boy and issued her a Rs 15 ticket. When the student asked for a zero-value ticket, the conductor allegedly made insulting remarks and questioned how he was supposed to know that she was a girl.

Police said statements have been recorded from the complainant, the conductor and some passengers.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Mahesh said he initially issued the Rs 15 ticket because he believed the student was a boy. He said he replaced it with a zero-value ticket after she clarified that she was a girl.

"I didn't realise, because seeing her made me think she was a boy. Saying 'sorry', I issued the Rs 15 ticket," he said.

Mahesh also said a woman passenger sitting nearby had initially mistaken the student for a boy. He denied using any abusive or insulting language against the girl and said some passengers had given statements to the police.

Police said the investigation was progressing. Mahesh said he was confident that he would be able to prove his innocence in the case.- Ends