A 36-year-old man has been arrested in Mumbai for allegedly molesting seven minor schoolgirls in a busy residential area of Malad. The girls are aged between 14 and 15.
The incident took place in Malvani, close to the girls’ school, during the morning hours. Police say the accused was taken into custody within hours of the complaint.
What police say happened
According to the police, one of the victims, a 14-year-old student from Santacruz, had left home around 7.30 am for school. She and her classmates were standing near the school premises when the man approached them.
Before the girls could react, the accused allegedly moved close, hugged them, made obscene gestures and molested all seven minors on a public road, reported news agency IANS.
Police said the man also tried to lure the girls by promising to take them for a drive in his car. He allegedly asked them to meet him regularly at the same spot.
Shaken by the incident, the girls raised an alarm. Local residents gathered at the scene, forcing the accused to flee.
Arrest and legal action
After recording the statement of the victim’s mother, Malvani Police registered a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The accused was detained later in the day and formally arrested in the afternoon. He was produced before the Dindoshi court, which remanded him to police custody for further investigation.
Police officials said they are also examining whether the man may have been involved in similar incidents earlier.
Mumbai Police said strict action was taken considering the seriousness of the offence and the age of the victims. The investigation is ongoing.
The incident caused fear among residents in the area. Police said the swift arrest was aimed at restoring a sense of safety.