68-year-old molests minor, held

The accused was alone in his house and told the girl he had kept chocolates for her in his car which was parked in the compound. When the girl was rummaging for the chocolates, the accused molested her. The survivor panicked and fled the place. She later complained to her mother. JITENDRA THAKUR , assistant police inspector, Satpati police station, Palghar

PALGHAR: A 68-year-old lawyer was arrested by the Satpati police in Palghar for allegedly molesting a 12-year-old girl on Wednesday evening.

The accused stays with his wife in Vadrai village. As he and his wife are a working couple, they had instructed the postman to deliver their letters and legal documents mailed to them to a nearby grocery store.

The letters were later delivered to them at their house after their arrival. On Wednesday, the minor girl went to the shop to buy some goods when she was asked to drop off the documents that belonged to the accused at his house, said assistant inspector Jitendra Thakur, Satpati police station.

“The accused was alone in his house and told the girl that he had kept chocolates in his car, parked in the compound. When the girl was rummaging for the chocolates, the accused molested her. The minor panicked and fled the spot. She later complained to her mother,” said Thakur.

After the incident came to light, angry villagers, along with the girl, marched to the police station demanding action against the accused. The police booked the accused.

He was arrested on Thursday. “We produced him before in court on Friday and he has been remanded in police custody,” said Thakur.