23-year-old man arrested for molesting minor, extorting Rs 50,000 over 6 months in Thane

THANE: A 23-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly molesting and extorting Rs 50,000 from a 15-year-old schoolgirl over six months in Thane city, police said on Wednesday.Prathamesh Desai, a Lokmanya Nagar resident, was taken into custody after the girl’s parents lodged a complaint on March 1.An official from the Vartak Nagar police station said Desai allegedly targeted the teenager between September 2025 and February 2026. Citing the FIR, the official said he took the minor to secluded places on several occasions and molested her.The accused threatened to inform the girl's parents about their purported "relationship" and extracted a total of Rs 50,000 from her, he said."Unable to bear the persistent threats and financial demands, the girl finally confided in her parents, who approached the police," the official said.Desai has been booked under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the official said, adding that further investigation is underway.(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme court directives on cases related to sexual assault)(With agency inputs)