Mumbai : The Powai police arrested the neighbour of a minor for allegedly sexually assaulting her. The parents of the five-year-old girl claim that the man sexually assaulted the child when she was playing with him in his house.
According to police officials, the accused is a 53-year-old government officer who has been living alone in Powai. The victim’s family members, who were very close to the accused, used to regularly invite him over for dinner and special occasions. The family used to also leave their children under his care when they wanted to go out or were busy with work.
The victim and her brother were fond of the accused and would play with him in his house for hours. On Tuesday, the victim’s mother returned home from the market around 7:30 pm and couldn’t find her daughter at home. She thought that the girl might be playing at one of her friend’s houses. After some time, the girl rushed home and was crying. Repeated attempts to find out the reason went unanswered.
According to the police, the girl hugged the mother tightly and would not let go. “The mother got worried and grew suspicious when she saw that the girl had an injury near her genital area and was bleeding as well. When the girl didn’t answer her questions, the mother rushed her to a hospital,” said a senior officer.
When the doctors informed that the girl had been sexually assaulted, the mother gently asked the girl again about what had happened, which is when the girl complained about the neighbour. The mother then approached the Powai police station and filed a complaint.
The accused was booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO). He has been remanded in custody till Monday.
