“Upskirting” is when someone takes a photo underneath someone’s skirt or dress without their knowledge or consent. On Oct. 21, Westchester County District Attorney Mimi Rocah announced that Riverside, Connecticut resident Majid Hedayati has been arraigned for taking photographs underneath the skirt of an unsuspecting female passenger while traveling on the Metro-North Railroad.
Hedayati, 66, was charged on October 19, 2021, in Harrison Town Court with Unlawful Surveillance in the Second Degree, a felony.
As alleged in the charging documents, on September 23, 2021, Hedayati was traveling on the Metro-North Railroad from Grand Central Station to Stamford when he sat down across from a woman wearing a skirt and used his cellphone to take photos underneath the woman’s skirt attempting to capture images of her genital area. The victim’s friend, who was sitting directly next to the defendant, observed Hedayati taking the photos, confronted him and reported him to a conductor.
On October 13, 2021, Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police detained Hedayati at Grand Central Station following an investigation. Hedayati is scheduled to appear again in Harrison Town Court on December 14, 2021.
The case is being prosecuted by the Special Prosecutions Division Sex Crimes Bureau. If anyone has been a victim or has further information on this case, please call the District Attorney’s Office at (914) 995-TIPS.
The charges against the defendant are merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Kudos to the friend who reported Hedayati, and to MTA Police for following through with the arrest.
