more-in Mumbai: Two people were arrested for raping a minor, one of whom is the victim’s father, in Koparkhairane on Saturday. Police said the victim, aged 17, had approached her friend Aditya Dethe, 24, alias Pouli D’Souza to confide in him about the horrifying situation at home where she was allegedly being raped by her father since three years. Instead of approaching the police, D’Souza ethe allegedly took her to his friend’s flat and raped her. According to the police, D’souza brought the victim to Koparkhairane police station on Friday to register a complaint against her father. In her statement, however, the victim said she had had physical relations with D’Souza after she told him about her father. Senior PI Satish Gaikwad said, “The victim’s statement was recorded before the women’s committee and also in-camera, in which she revealed physical relations with D’Souza. Based on this, he was also made a accused in the case.” As per the FIR registered in the case, the victim’s father, aged 46, was a manager with computer maker Dell before opting for voluntary retirement. His second wife is in a senior position with a reputed paints manufacturer, and would be at work while he was mostly home all day. The victim lived with her father, stepmother, two siblings and a step-sister. “Taking advantage of the situation, the father had been raping his daughter for the last three years and threatened her with dire consequences if she told anyone about it,” Mr. Gaikwad said. D’Souza, a photographer, met the victim at her college during an event and befriended her. “The moment D’Souza learnt of her trauma, he should have brought her to us immediately.” However, D’Souza’s friend defended him saying, “We were brought up together in an orphanage and I know him since childhood. The victim and D’Souza were in a serious relationship and there is no way he would have raped her. He intended to help her by taking her to the police station, but now even he has been booked.” Police said both accused have been arrested under IPC sections 376, 354 and 506 together with sections 4,8 and 9 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.

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