Man gets 5 yrs in jail for chemical attack on ex-girlfriend

The sessions court here today convicted a city-based film professional for flinging chemical at his former girlfriend and sentenced him to five years’ imprisonment.

“The court also imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 on Jerrit John, which will be paid to the victim,” said Public Prosecutor Kalpana Chavan.

John owned a production house named ‘No Nonsense’ and had produced-directed television serials. He was arrested on November 12 (and is in jail ever since) after hurling chemical at Aryanka Hosbetkar (26), an international cyclist, at her house in Adarsh Colony in Worli area.

The special women’s court judge Vrushali Joshi convicted John under sections 326 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt), 452 (house-trespass for hurt, assault, etc.,) and 342 (wrongful confinement) of Indian Penal Code. However, he was acquitted of the charge of attempt to murder.

According to police, Hosbetkar had returned from a cycling expedition on that day and was with some friends when John barged into house, dragged her upstairs and flung chemical on her face.

The two had had a relationship for some ten months before the incident. But Aryanka had cut him off after learning that he was actually a married man and had a five-year-old son.