Gang-rape survivor allegedly molested by NCP leader

A 14-year-old girl who was gang-raped allegedly by two youth earlier this month in the neighbouring Raigad district, was also molested by a local Nationalist Congress Party leader on the very same day of the incident, the police said.

The minor, who was gang-raped on July 6 by two men who were arrested the next day, during further investigations told the police that on the very same day of the incident after she was raped by youths, a local NCP leader had also allegedly molested her.

"The youths dropped her at the highway near Nagothane village. On seeing her stranded, NCP Nagothane city unit chief Santosh Mandavkar offered her a lift and said he will drop her home in suburban Borivali. But, instead took her to a garage on the highway and allegedly molested her in a car," Deputy Superintendent of Police, Roha, Amol Zende said.

A case has been registered against Mandavkar on Friday under the Indian Penal Code sections under 354 (A)(B) (sexual harassment), section 506 (criminal intimidation) and other relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, he said.

Mandavkar is at large and the police has launched a manhunt to nab him, he added.

Image: Students protest against increasing cases of rape against women in India.