Man arrested for sexually abusing underage daughter in 2020 | Mumbai News

Navi Mumbai: Rabale police on Saturday arrested a 45-year-old man for allegedly sexually abusing his minor daughter four years ago. The defendant confessed to the crime, a police officer said.

The incident came to light on May 8 when the girl had gone to her maternal uncle’s house for a vacation and told him about it. According to the girl’s statement to police, the alleged abuse occurred when she was 10 years old. She said her father, a sanitation worker, sexually abused her and threatened to kill her if she told anyone. However, she told her grandmother about the abuse. “Then the accused was beaten up by the elders of the family and the girl was sent to her paternal aunt’s house to stay there,” the officer said.

The girl had severed all ties with her father. However, she recently learned that her maternal uncle was thinking of sending her back to her father since she hadn’t met him in a long time. “Fearing that she would have to stay with her father again, she confided in her uncle about the abuse and insisted on not being sent home,” the official added.

The minor was taken to Shivaji Nagar police station in Govandi where the crime was initially registered, but was later transferred to Rabale police station after it became clear that the alleged crime had happened in Digha.

After handing over the case, police arrested the accused at his residence on Saturday. He has been charged under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act.