Six arrested for alleged gang rape of minor girl in Mumbai's Powai; all held within 24 hours

Mumbai, Oct 31 : Mumbai Police have arrested six men in connection with the alleged gang rape and sexual harassment of a 15-year-old girl in Powai, with all the accused apprehended within 24 hours of receiving the complaint, police officials said on Saturday.

According to police, the incident allegedly took place between October 27 and 28, when the prime accused, along with four other men, took the minor girl to an isolated plot of land behind a bakery on Saki Vihar Road. The five men allegedly sexually assaulted her at the deserted location.

The accused reportedly threatened the girl with serious consequences if she disclosed the incident to her parents or approached the police. They also allegedly threatened to circulate her photographs on social media.

Police have also revealed a separate alleged incident involving the victim, in which a sixth accused intercepted her near a pipeline in Powai and subjected her to molestation and sexual harassment.

Unable to bear the ordeal, the girl approached Powai Police Station on the morning of October 29, accompanied by her family members, and lodged a complaint.

Following the complaint, police registered a case under Sections 64(1) and 74 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Sections 4, 8 and 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Police teams were immediately deployed to trace the accused. Raids conducted at multiple locations led to the arrest of all six men within 24 hours of the complaint being registered.

Investigators said none of the arrested accused had any previous criminal record.

The victim was subsequently taken to KEM Hospital for a medical examination as part of the investigation.

Senior police officials are closely monitoring the case. Investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the alleged offences and gathering evidence to strengthen the case against the accused.

Further investigation is underway.