The Kurla Railway Police have arrested a 35-year-old man for allegedly molesting a 14-year-old girl onboard a Karjat-bound fast local train. The accused, identified as Mohammed Ayub Ansari, has been booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Following his arrest, a special POCSO court remanded him to judicial custody until February 22.
The victim, a resident of Dombivli, had visited the Gateway of India with her parents on Tuesday, February 10, to celebrate her father’s birthday. After dinner, the family boarded a Karjat fast local from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) around 8:45 PM to return home.
According to police officials, the accused boarded the train at Kurla railway station and stood near the seat where the minor was sitting. He allegedly made inappropriate physical contact and engaged in lewd behavior. While the girl initially ignored the advances due to the heavy rush in the compartment, the harassment escalated as the train approached Dombivli.
Accused Caught Red-Handed
As the family stood near the door to alight at Dombivli, the accused reportedly approached the girl from behind and touched her inappropriately again. The victim reacted by slapping the accused and immediately informed her parents of the repeated harassment that occurred between Kurla and Dombivli.
Alerted by her outcry, the victim’s father and fellow passengers apprehended Ansari and handed him over to the Government Railway Police (GRP) at Dombivli station.
A case was initially registered at the Dombivli railway police station. However, since the primary offense commenced after Kurla, the investigation was transferred to the Kurla Railway Police.
"The accused is a resident of Kurla and works in a garment factory in Govandi. We have booked him under relevant sections of the BNS and the POCSO Act," stated a senior police official.
The accused was produced before a special POCSO court, which has sent him to jail pending further legal proceedings.