The Bhandup police arrested a 22-year-old man for reportedly raping a girl over a period of around three years on the pretext marrying her.
The matter came to light after the accused recently refused to marry the girl following which the girl tried to commit suicide. However, the family rescued her and took her to a hospital, doctors informed that she was pregnant. Following the evelation, the victim narrated what had happened in the past. The family then registered an offence with the police, who arrested the accused.
Swapnil Panchal, 22, lives at Thakerey Chawl on Dargah Road in Bhandup (west) and is a plumber. The victim also lives in the same area.
According to the police, the 20-year-old victim tried to hang herself with a rope tied to the ceiling on Friday. Fortunately, one of the family members saw her committing suicide and alarmed the others.
The family rescued her in the nick of time and rushed her to the nearby Agrawal Hospital. She was saved, but during her treatment the doctors realised that she was pregnant.
The doctors informed the family about her pregnancy, following which they interrogated the victim.
“Shreya told her family that she was in a relationship with Panchal since 2011. As Panchal promised to marry her, the victim agreed to have a physical relationship with him. However, after she recently informed Panchal about the pregnancy, he refused to marry her over some unknown reasons. The girl, depressed by the refusal and fearing stigma, decided to end her life,” said an officer from the Bhandup police station.
The Bhandup police was informed about the entire incident and on the girl’s statement the police registered an offence under Section 376 (rape) against Panchal on Saturday. “He was arrested on the same day and was produced in the court on Sunday. The court then remanded him to police custody for two days,” said another police officer from Bhandup police station.
When asked whether charges for abetting the suicide would also be added in the case, the officer said, “That only happens in a case of death due to suicide. We are yet to officially receive the medical report of the victim from the hospital. Prima facie, it seems to be a case of rape and we have arrested him on the victim’s complaint.”