Rape and murder bid at Grant Road: Youth is yet to be arrested

The police are yet to arrest the 19-year-old youth who had allegedly tried to rape and then kill the girl who refused to allow him any sexual favours after they checked into a hotel at Grant Road on Wednesday.

Police sources said the duo were reported to be old friends and had a break up which led to some anger on part of the culprit. He called the girl and asked her to meet him to sort out their differences and they decided to meet at Nana Chowk.

The victim had come there with a friend and the accused, who has been identified as Kunal Desai, took them to a hotel in Grant Road where he had booked a room. The friend who left after some time and the duo were then alone in the room, sources said.

In her complaint, the victim has said that in the hotel room Desai started demanding sexual favours from her and then tried to force himself on her.

When she resisted, he is reported to have beaten her up and even tried to strangulate her with a rope that he had brought along with her. In the process, the girl lost consciousness and the youth left the spot, thinking that the girl was dead, the police said.

The girl was then contacted by her friend who then came to the hotel with some more people and started looking for her.” It was only after some time that the victim regained consciousness and opened the door and told the entire story to her friends, after which a complaint was lodged at Gamdevi police station,” an officer said. A case has been lodged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code.

Senior police inspector Netaji Bhopale said that they are carrying out detailed inquiries into the matter and are going to arrest the culprit very soon.” We feel that that he is still in Mumbai and is dodging the police. But we will arrest him soon,” he assured.