Man held for posing as a cop, molesting minor

The accused has been remanded to police custody until August 14.

The Pant Nagar police station arrested a 22-year-old man on Monday, for allegedly posing as a policeman and molesting a minor in Ghatkopar.
The police has identified the accused as Sudhir Sonawane, an unemployed resident of Ramabai Colony in Ghatkopar.

“The incident took place on Monday evening, when the victim, a 14-year-old girl, was purchasing vegetables with her mother at Tilak Marg in Ghatkopar. When the victim was momentarily separated from her mother, Sonawane, who was also in the same marketplace, approached the minor,” said Inspector, Rajesh Kevde, Pant Nagar police station.

According to Kevde, the victim in her statements, told the police that Sonawane, who is slightly built and tall, had approached her and told her she was not safe and started ‘giving her tips to not get raped’.

“When her mother got to know of the matter, she approached a nearby police van and complained about Sonawane, who was still in the vicinity and was quickly nabbed by the police,” Kevde added.

Sonawane has been charged with impersonating a public servant and molestation under the IPC, in addition to various sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.

“The accused has been remanded to police custody until August 14. His motive was to sexually harass the girl. We are making further inquiries to ascertain if he has impersonated a police official before,” said Kevde.

mumbai.newsline@expressindia.com

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