Sex chats with teen boy leads to 53yearold city bizman’s arrest

MUMBAI: A 53-year-old city businessman has been charged under Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) for allegedly engaging in sexual intercourse with a minor. Identified on the basis of sex chats saved on the minor’s phone, the businessman was arrested on Monday.

Khar Police had been investigating a case involving a 16-yearold boy, whose mother had filed a complaint in June, after she learnt that her son was on a dating app popular with homosexual men. “Around a month back, the mother of the minor noticed an unknown man leaving from the main door. She asked her son, but initially did not get to know the truth. Later, the boy confided and informed her about the app,” said a police officer.

The teenager was taken by his mother to a child psychologist who suggested lodging an FIR. The police say the minor has cooperated with their probe and handed over his phone, which contains chats and details of men he met through the app. Last month, police arrested the man whom the mother had seen leaving their home. He was charged with POCSO and Section 377.

A second arrest was made on Monday when the police, while going through the chats saved on the 16-year-old’s phone, were able to identify another man – the 53-year-old businessman – who had engaged in a sexual relationship with the teenager.

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