Sudhir Kumar Chauhan, 52, appeared before court on Friday charged with one count of sexual intercourse without consent and three counts of indecent assault.

10:54, Tue, Apr 28, 2026 Updated: 12:28, Tue, Apr 28, 2026

Scoot Airlines plane

The 52-year-old appeared before Perth Magistrates Court after the alleged mid-air incident. (Image: Getty)

A man accused of raping a woman on a flight to Australia sensationally asked to be released on bail to a shared Airbnb property, a court has heard. Sudhir Kumar Chauhan, 52, appeared before Perth Magistrates Court on Friday, charged with one count of sexual intercourse without consent and three counts of indecent assault.

The alleged attack is said to have taken place on April 13 aboard Scoot Airlines flight TR16 from Singapore to Perth, as Chauhan travelled from Mumbai on a short business trip. Prosecutors told the court Chauhan was sitting in the aisle seat of a three-person row, with the alleged victim in the middle and another passenger by the window. All three were strangers. The court heard Chauhan allegedly used a blanket to conceal his actions, placing it over his hand and the woman’s lap as he believed she was asleep. However, the woman was awake during the alleged assault, which prosecutors said lasted more than 10 minutes.

It is alleged the incident only stopped when a member of cabin crew walked past or when the woman made it clear she was awake. Prosecutors said the behaviour may otherwise have continued.

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During the hearing, Chauhan’s lawyer said a three-month lease had been secured at an Airbnb property as part of proposed bail arrangements.

The court was told the accommodation had eight bedrooms and was open to other members of the public, with shared living spaces.

The defence also proposed strict bail conditions, including a curfew between 8pm and 7am, surrendering his passport and remaining in Western Australia.

But the magistrate rejected the plan, describing it as “highly unsuitable” and ruling that “the proposed residential arrangements are too uncertain and too obscure”.

Chauhan was remanded in custody at Hakea Prison, south of Perth and is due to appear again at Perth Magistrates Court on July 10 via video link.