24-year-old man held for kidnapping, raping minor girl

A 24-year-old man from Aurangabad, who allegedly kidnapped a minor girl from Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) hospital in Vashi and raped her taking her to his native place, has been arrested by the Vashi police Wednesday.

According to the police, the accused ( name not disclosed) worked as a labourer at the canteen of the hospital and he stayed at Juhu village in Vashi.

The 16-year-old girl had come to stay with one of her relatives, who was admitted to the hospital on February 29.

“The accused met the girl in the hospital and became friends. He later brainwashed her and then took her to his hometown promising to marry her on March 4,” said Vasudev More, assistant police inspector from Vashi police station.

When the g i rl ’s family learnt about the incident, they approached the police and registered a complaint. After investigation, the police sent one of t heir t eams to Aurangabad.

“We arrested the accused from his hometown on Wednesday. He reportedly married the girl there. However, he is still accused of kidnapping and raping her as the girl is a minor,” More said.

The police have booked the accused under section 363 (punishment for kidnapping), 376 (punishment for rape) and relevant sections of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.

He was produced before the judicial court on Thursday and has been remanded to police custody till March 21. The police have not found any criminal record of him so far.