26-yr-old held a year after raping minor

MUMBAI: The Mumbai crime branch arrested a 26-year-old rape accused from the Wada area in Palghar, who had allegedly kidnapped and raped a 13-yearold girl in Powai, a year ago. Soon after the incident, the accused had fled to his native place in Uttar Pradesh (UP) and was hiding there.

According to the police, the accused was an auto driver and resided at his relative’s place in Powai. The minor also lives in the same vicinity and they knew each other. The incident occurred on September 27, 2017, when the accused asked the victim to accompany him to a place. He took her to his friend’s residence where he allegedly threatened and raped her.

When the minor did not return home, her parents approached the Powai police. After an inquiry, police registered a kidnapping case against the suspect, said a police officer.

The crime branch started conducting a parallel inquiry and inquired in the vicinity. The accused learnt the police was looking for him, following which he fled to his native place in UP, said police inspector Srimant Shinde of the crime branch. The minor was traced two days later and brought back to her home.

The officer said the accused was constantly changing his place of residence and a few months ago he came to Wada area in Palghar and was driving a private vehicle. “Recently we got a tip-off and a team visited there and nabbed him on Monday. He was handed over to the Powai police station,” he said.