Mumbai cops catch serial molester

Eight girls in the Kalina area in Santacruz (East) were molested over the past few months.

The Vakola police arrested a 25-year-old civic labourer on Sunday night for allegedly molesting eight girls in the Kalina area in Santacruz (East) over the past few months. The cleaner,on contract with the BMC,was nabbed by a local resident who allegedly found the accused molesting his relative.

The police said Raju Jadhav is believed to have molested seven girls previously,who registered complaints. After three girls from the Cuffe Parade area were found murdered in separate incidents since November last year,Kalina residents had voiced their fears about increasing molestation incidents.

The police said Jadhav is a resident of Kalina and has been married for the past three years. The incident occurred on Sunday night,when Jadhav allegedly followed the victim (10) while she was on her way to a grocery store. Jadhav allegedly stopped her and and started molesting her,said the police.

Though Jadhav tried to keep the girl quiet,she managed to cry for help. Residents who were alerted by the call chased and nabbed him.

The residents handed over the accused to us, said S Dhable sub-inspector of Vakola police.

Jadhav has told the police in his statement that his targets were girls who were eight to 10 years,Dhable said.

We suspect that Jadhav might have molested even more girls who have not come forward as yet, said Dhable.

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Police said Jadhav used to cover his face with a handkerchief so that his victims did not identify him.

We will now conduct an identification parade of the accused. He was produced before a court,where he was remanded in police custody till May 5, said Dhable.

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