<![CDATA[Six men were arrested on Sunday for allegedly raping a minor girl in Vile Parle over the past year. Police told that three more accused are absconding. They told the accused would force the victim, aged 16, into sexual acts by blackmailing her using compromising photos and videos of her. The rapes took place on separate occasions in Vile Parle, they added. The Police told that the victim and the accused, aged between 20 and 30, live close to each other. The crime came to light on Saurday when the victim, who complained of discomfort in her private parts, informed her mother. A complaint was registered by Vile Parle police station and a case under IPC section 376 (rape) and relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Police Inspector Mr. Dyaneshwar Ganare, Vile Parle police station, told, “We apprehended six accused last night, while efforts are on to nab the other three. Videos of the victim made by an accused are yet to be recovered.” Police told the victim was acquainted with the prime accused, who lured with a promise of marriage and raped her in a room. A friend of the prime accused, who was present in the room at the time, took video footage of the act and used it to blackmail her. Later, the prime accused too began blackmailing her by threatening to circulate the video on social media. The accused later shared the video with seven other friends, who also raped her using the same modus operandi. The incidents of rape took place at various places in Vile Parle, including public toilets and bushes. They also forced her to bunk school. Police told the victim met the prime accused when she was 15, and that it was at his behest that the other accused raped her. All accused are unemployed, and the mother of one of them is associated with a political party. “The six arrested accused were produced in Dindoshi court, which remanded them in police custody till February 12. They will be charged with rape and under relevant POCSO sections,” Mr. Ganare told.]]>
