Though the police can’t deploy their men everywhere, the fear of the law needs to act as a deterrent, said Patil, adding that the state government would try to get the case tried in a fast track court. He said so far, only rape cases were tried in fast track courts, now molestation cases also needed to be tried there.

Calling the matter a “serious one,” Patil told reporters on Wednesday that he had spoken to Jadhav and Additional Commissioner of Police Archana Tyagi in this regard, asking for action to be taken against the culprits.

Patil said though the police had taken suo motu cognizance of the matter, the victims, who hail from Gujarat and have settled in California, US, had refused to lodge complaints even after being contacted by the police. This could create problems when the case is presented before the court by the state, said Patil.

Patil said that last year, when a similar incident of molestation had occurred on New Year’s eve at the Gateway of India and had been reported by a tabloid, the police had worked hard to trace the culprits from the photographs and the same would be done here.