The Bombay High Court has directed the city police to investigate a complaint filed by a father, alleging that his son was sexually assaulted inside a posh club in western suburb of Bandra by one of its staff.

A bench of Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Manjusha Deshpande has also asked the state government to file a reply affidavit to the petition.

According to a complaint made at Bandra police station, a member of the club has complained that a staffer had sexually molested his minor son.

Following this, the staffer has been arrested under POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act and is currently in custody of the Bandra police station.

Club secretary, Sunil Motwani, has denied the alleged incident.

A member of the club's disciplinary committee said that several weeks ago, the child had ordered food at the club. The food was late in coming and he went to the kitchen where the accused, who is a kitchen cashier, told him to step out. However, the child reportedly refused, at which point, the cashier jostled him out.

The accused is an employee of the catering contractor.

Apparently, he poked him with his finger during the jostling, it is alleged. When the parent complained to the club management, it called for the close circuit TV camera footage, but did not find any evidence of sexual assault, except for him evicting the boy.

As a matter of precaution, the club wrote to Bandra police detailing the incident.

However, the child's father was told by the victim that he was inappropriately touched. Accordingly, he filed a police complaint.

Meanwhile, the club has alleged that the parent badly assaulted the accused outside the club premises.

The Bandra police, which has arrested the accused, is further investigating the matter.

(With UNI inputs)