Thergaon shelter had no licence to operate: Police

PUNE: The shelter in Thergaon, where a minor girl was allegedly raped by its operator Sachin Kamble, is being run illegally. It does not have the mandatory licence issued by the state's women and child development department, said the Hinjewadi police.
"The orphanage is registered with the charity commissioner but not with the state government's women and child development department," said Appasaheb Waghmode, inspector of the Hinjewadi police station.
The rape survivor's aunt had lodged the police complaint on Wednesday night following which Kamble was arrested. He has been remanded in police custody till June 12 by the Shivajinagar sessions court.
The shelter is operating from a two-bedroom flat in a commercial building along the Pimpri-Kalewadi Road. There were four girls and boys at the shelter, who have gone to their relatives' homes for summer vacation.
Waghmode said the police will get details of other inmates from the orphanage's records and contact their relatives to seek permission to record their statements and check whether there were any other cases of sexual assault.
The minor girl was sent to Sassoon General Hospital for medical examination. Police have received the sealed medical report. "Investigating officer Smita Patil will be given the report and she will take action after going through it," said Waghmode. He also said the girl will be giving her statement before the court in a few days.
The orphanage is registered with the charity commissioner but not with the state government's women and child development department