Ludhiana: Grocery store owner sedates and rapes 16-year-old employee; detained

Sadar police have arrested a grocer for allegedly sedating and raping a 16-year-old employee in his shop. The minor had joined the accused’s shop as a helper only a month ago.

According to police, the accused threatened the girl not to tell anyone about the incident.

The girl narrated the ordeal to her parents and her mother filed a complaint with the police. The police registered a prima facie case and arrested the accused, identified as Vivek Mehta, 35, of Begoana village.

The plaintiff stated that her daughter started working as a grocery store assistant a month ago. She added that she had been upset for the past few days and was reluctant to go to work.

When questioned, the girl said that the accused took her to his house on June 14 under the pretext of work. When they reached home, the accused offered her a cold drink with sedatives. After she lost consciousness, the accused raped her, the complainant added.

Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Harbans Singh, who is investigating the case, said the woman lodged a complaint with the police on Tuesday. The police filed a complaint against the accused under Section 64 (rape) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and arrested him.