One accused identified in Powai minors sodomy case

Mumbai: The Powai police, which is probing the two-month-old case of the suicide of two minor boys from Powai who were allegedly sodomised in July, has identified one of the four alleged perpetrators. The police is trying to gather more information about a man named Zaheer and his three accomplices as they are on the run since July.

The police has formed four teams to nab the accused, but there has been no headway yet.

The main accused, identified as Zaheer, along with three other accomplices was last seen chatting with the two boys who were residents of Filterpada area in Powai. However, as there are no CCTV camera units installed near the area where the crime was committed, there is no strong evidence against them yet, the police said. The police added that people are coming forward with the description of the accused.

However, according to police sources, the locals who were earlier hesitant to record any statement against the accused have started revealing facts about the incident and the four suspects.

The police sources investigating this case have revealed that due to lack of evidence the investigation has been hampered, but something new kept coming out of the probe slowly and steadily. The police had also tied up with the crime branch to nab the accused, following which some revelations were made.

Navinchandra Reddy, deputy commissioner of police zone 10, said, “The case had hit a dead-end, but now since the police has a little description of the accused, the police have a strong lead. The probe is likely to pick up the pace, and the accused will be behind bars soon.”

Of the two minor boys aged 10 and 13 had consumed rat poison on July 12. The 10-year-old died the same day, while his friend, the 13-year-old boy, died two weeks later after slipping into a coma, while he was admitted to the civic-run KEM hospital.