A suspect who had been on the run after allegedly sexually assaulting a married woman has finally been arrested by the Nashik Police from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar District. The arrest was made by a team from Crime Branch Unit-2 in the Kannad area after tracking his movements. The accused has been identified as Harshal Ramesh Pardeshi (19). Police said the incident had created panic and outrage in the locality after the victim lodged a complaint. Acting on the seriousness of the allegations, officers launched an intensive search operation and formed special teams to trace the suspect, who had gone into hiding soon after the alleged crime.
According to the complaint filed by the victim, the accused had visited her house as a guest. On the night of the incident, the woman’s husband had gone out for his night shift, leaving her alone at home. Police said the accused allegedly took advantage of the situation and tied the woman’s hands with her scarf before assaulting her. After the incident, he fled the spot and remained absconding. Based on the victim’s complaint, a rape case was registered at Ambad Police Station in Nashik. The case triggered concern among residents and prompted police to intensify efforts to quickly trace and arrest the accused.
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Taking the case seriously, the Nashik Police formed two special teams to locate the suspect. Investigators from Crime Branch Unit-2 closely monitored his possible hideouts and movements. During the probe, police received information that the accused was hiding in the Kannad area of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar District. Acting on the tip-off, officers reached the location and laid a trap to capture him. When police attempted to detain him, the accused tried to escape into nearby hilly terrain. However, officers chased him for nearly two kilometres through the rugged area before finally catching him and placing him under arrest.
Following his arrest, the accused was taken into custody and handed over to the Nashik police for further legal action. Officials from Ambad Police Station are continuing the investigation into the case. Police said swift action was taken considering the seriousness of the offence and the growing concerns over crimes against women. Meanwhile, in another incident, a case has been registered at Panchvati Police Station against Mangesh Mahadev Phad (35) from Parli for allegedly exploiting a woman by promising marriage. Police said the accused allegedly established physical relations with the victim at several locations between June 2022 and March 2026 before refusing to marry her.