Corporator threatens rape survivor's family, held

A special investigation team (SIT) headed by an assistant commissioner of police rank officer on Saturday arrested a local corporator for allegedly threatening the family of a 13-year-old rape survivor. The arrested corporator, Changej Multani, had intervened between the girl and the alleged rapist's family last year, trying to settle the matter by convincing the accused to marry the girl. Multani is a corporator from Andheri (W).

A 13-year old girl was allegedly raped by her neighbour two years ago. The accused knew the minor as he owned a shop in the locality where she lived. The girl was raped after the accused gave her a drink, which left her unconscious. However, when the girl was eight months pregnant, her family came to know about the rape and approached the Amboli police station to register an FIR. However, the police recorded his statement on a blank piece of paper and Multani started to intervene. It was only when the child welfare committee sent a legal notice to the police, a case was registered in January this year under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offence Act.

When the minor gave birth, the accused fled and settled abroad. After the police failed to take cognizance of the complaint lodged by the minor's family, they approached the HC.

Deputy commisisoner of police, Zone IX, Satyanarayan Chaudhary, confirmed the arrest, saying, "Multani has been arrested following the high court's order, and further investigations are on."