In a federal court in Boston, a Boston doctor, Dr. Sudipta Mohanty, was acquitted of charges of lewd acts near a 14-year-old girl on an airplane. The three-day trial concluded with the judge delivering the verdict of not guilty.
Dr. Mohanty’s lawyers argued that numerous passengers sitting near Mohanty and the flight attendants serving the passengers stated they did not witness any behavior consistent with the accusation during the flight. Mohanty expressed his relief at the verdict and mentioned the emotional toll the accusation and trial have taken on him and his family.
Speaking through a written statement, Mohanty said, “My fiancé was sitting next to me on that flight, and neither of us can understand why this happened to us. I have dedicated my life to caring for others as a physician, and it has been heartbreaking to step away while I dealt with these false accusations.”
It is important to note that Mohanty opted for a bench trial, where the judge decided the verdict instead of a jury. The indictment against him included one count of lewd, indecent, and obscene acts on an aircraft.
According to investigators, Mohanty was a passenger on a Hawaiian Airlines flight from Honolulu to Boston in May 2022. He was seated next to a 14-year-old girl who was traveling with her grandparents. The minor alleged that Mohanty had covered himself with a blanket up to his neck and that his leg was bouncing. Later, the girl claimed that the blanket was on the floor, and Mohanty was masturbating. She then moved to an empty seat in a different row and informed her family members upon arrival in Boston.
Mohanty’s lawyer, Claudia Lagos, emphasized that her client had no history of wrongdoing and described the accusations as devastating. She stated, “Dr. Mohanty is a talented and dedicated medical doctor. The last six months have been a bizarre nightmare for him, and he is relieved this is finally over so that he can rebuild his life.”
The acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy’s office did not provide an immediate comment on the verdict. If convicted, Mohanty could have faced up to 90 days in prison, one year of supervised release, and a fine of up to $5,000.
Dr. Mohanty, who previously worked at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, is no longer practicing at the hospital.
