CM orders Crime Branch probe

“It is a serious incident and I have ordered a detailed inquiry,” said Chavan. Home Minister R R Patil asked Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Himanshu Roy to ensure the investigation is completed in eight days and a report submitted.

The women and child development (WCD) department is also probing possible lapses that might have allowed unknown men to enter the protection home.

“P R Thorat,deputry CEO of WCD department,will head the inquiry,” said commissioner Rajendra Chavan.

HC seeks state reply

Bombay High Court (HC) took suo moto notice on Monday of a newspaper report claiming several inmates of a state-run shelter in Mankhurd were raped by armed men and sought state government reply within a week.A Kolkata native who escaped the shelter told the newspaper in an interview that she saw six rapes at Navjeevan Mahila Vastigruh in the past four months.She claimed a group of drunk men carrying knives and choppers would barge into the home and assault and rape inmates.The woman was reportedly brought to the shelter by police after a raid at an orchestra bar where she was working as a waitress. The shelter houses women rescued under Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act. A group of women had tried to flee the home last Saturday after a fight with the caretakers. Of the 36 who scaled its compound wall,13 were caught while 23 escaped.