Navi Mumbai: Man Arrested After Inappropriate Touching of Two Girls; Court Remands Gaikwad
Navi Mumbai, 22nd August 2024: While protests were ongoing in Badlapur over the alleged sexual abuse of two four-year-old girls by a school janitor, a separate incident of molestation occurred in Digha on Tuesday involving two girls aged 10 and 11.
The suspect, Sahebrao Gaikwad, 48, has been arrested and charged under sections 8 and 10 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and section 74 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
According to initial reports, the girls were heading to a stationary shop in Pandhari Nagar, Digha, around 8 pm when the incident took place. The accused reportedly emerged from a parked auto rickshaw and inappropriately touched the girls. Their screams attracted the attention of nearby residents, who intervened and handed Gaikwad over to the police.
Authorities noted that the heightened awareness following the Badlapur case prompted a swift response from the community. “The public’s quick action is a result of the increased vigilance following the Badlapur incident,” said a police officer. Gaikwad appeared in court on Wednesday and has been remanded in judicial custody.
