Man held for raping 12-year-old daughter, 2nd wife was away

A 45-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly raping his 12-year-old biological daughter from his first marriage in a slum in Shivaji Nagar area of Mumbai’s eastern suburbs. The man’s second wife was at her relative’s place when the accused raped his daughter. His first wife had left him about five years ago owing to constant harassment, leaving behind her daughter with him. The name and residence of the accused has been withheld to protect the victim’s identity. The accused sells chickens for a living.

The incident occurred on January 21 when the accused’s second wife had gone to Bhiwandi. He raped his daughter at home and left her bleeding from her private parts. A medical report of the victim has confirmed rape. The matter came to light, after a woman from the neighbourhood heard the girl’s cries.

The woman spotted the girl crying after which she confronted her and the girl narrated the incident. She told the woman her own father had been sexually abusing her for about two years now, said senior police inspector Balasaheb Jadhav of Shivaji Nagar police station.

The woman immediately reported the matter to Shivaji Nagar police who promptly registered an FIR under sections 376 (2) (rape) and 4 (penetrative sexual assault), 8 (sexual assault) and 12 (commits sexual harassment upon a child) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO). The accused was subsequently placed under arrest and after being produced in a special POCSO court is presently in the custody of Shivaji Nagar police who are grilling him.

The girl was admitted to a hospital and her condition is said to be stable. The police is recording her detailed statements against her father. The girl was living with the accused and his second wife. The police said it was not clear how many siblings she had and if they were targeted too.