Panvel ACP to take up Kharghar minor abuse case

NAVI MUMBAI: The sexual abuse case of the three-and-half-year old Kharghar schoolgirl has now been transferred to the assistant commissioner of police of Panvel division. TOI has been following this case and also highlighted certain loopholes in the local police investigation.
DCP (Zone-2) Sanjay Yenpure said, “The Kharghar sexual abuse case will now be investigated by the ACP of Panvel divison, S B Suryavanshi.The ACP will carry out further investigations related to the action to be taken on the school founder, if he is at fault for hushing up the first instance of the girl’s sexual abuse by the driver in August.”
While two accused persons have been arrested for rape in this case, the third accused, a school driver involved in the August incident, is yet to be traced. The accused driver was sacked by the school management after he allegedly sexually abused the same girl, while dropping her home from school in the van.
ACP Suryavanshi said, “I have officially requested the Panvel JMFC court, seeking permission for a statement of the minor victim’s parents before the magistrate. As per the new legal amendment pertaining to a rape case, the minor rape victim’s mother’s statement will be recorded before the magistrate, and kept confidential. Once the statement is recorded, there will be more clarity in the case.”
He added, “The place of offence in August and whether the school head had knowledge of the offence taking place are the two aspects that need to be confirmed. Only then, legal course of action can be taken on the school head.”
Meanwhile, local public representatives and activists have demanded a thorough probe and questioned why the third accused has still not been caught. “I will be asking the Navi Mumbai police to conduct an impartial investigation in this serious crime against a girl child,” said the Panvel BJP MLA, Prashant Thakur.
Belapur MLA, Manda Mhatre said, “I was supposed to meet the police commissioner on Saturday to demand a probe but the meeting has now been postponed. But I am demanding that all the accused persons be booked. Police should make an example of this case to send out a strong message to all child abusers.”
Activist Hemant Sharma of the Sahayak NGO said, “I feel that the CID or the crime branch should deal with the case. Also, the minor girl's parents are from a poor background, so care should be taken tto ensure they are not intimidated by anyone.”