Dombivli serial rape could have been averted

The four accused who raped the girl first also recorded a video of the incident. Representation pic

The Dombivli rape case could have been detected much earlier had the police and family probed the 15-year-old's disappearance in May, the teen's statement has revealed. The accused had kept her confined for a whole day.

The girl's mother had registered a missing person complaint at Manpada police station, but when the girl was dropped near her house the next day and questioned by police, she did not reveal anything. Cops claim that the girl said she was upset and had gone to her friend's place.

When the girl revealed her ordeal to the family, they decided to nab the accused themselves but he managed to flee. Representation pic

According to the girl, she was introduced to the prime accused in December 2020. On January 29, the accused asked her to accompany him to Dombivli where two more people joined them. The girl was taken to a house where another accused was present and she was raped by the four. The act was also filmed by the group. After the incident, the girl stopped taking the accused's calls. In February, the accused told her to meet him and threatened to show the video to her family. She was taken to Dombivli where seven men were present and she was given a spiked drink. After regaining consciousness, she experienced severe pain in her private parts. She was again told to come in March when she found 15 people in the room. She was given a spiked drink and does not remember what happened after that.

Kin, cops missed opportunity

When the teenager was taken by the accused on May 5, she returned only the next afternoon. After she said that she had visited a friend's place, the police did not make further enquiries and let her go home. According to the law, any missing complaint involving a minor is considered kidnapping. Surprisingly, neither the cops nor the family probed her disappearance further and accepted what she said.

The girl was raped again in mid-May and in July. On September 22, her aunt noticed something amiss with the girl and she was getting repeated calls on her mobile. She spoke to the girl, who finally broke down and revealed the ordeal.

"The family decided to nab the accused red-handed and asked the girl to receive the call and ask the accused to pick her up. When the accused came, the family, with the help of a local NGO worker, tried to nab him but the accused managed to flee with the girl and she was raped by six people. Then the family registered an FIR," said an officer. "Had they come to us before the last incident, it could have been avoided," the officer added.

Asked about the Manpada police not treating the missing complaint as that of kidnapping, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Zone III Sachin Gunjal said, "We need to check the facts. The statement given by the girl is being investigated. The claims will be corroborated with the accused and other technical detail."

2 more held, 5 on the run

The Manpada police arrested two more accused, taking the total to 28. Another five accused named in the FIR are absconding and teams have been formed to trace them.

Did accused make money?

In her statement, the girl mentioned an instance when she saw her friend taking money from one of the men who committed the rape. Police said they are verifying the detail and interrogation of the accused can reveal more information about it.

Sept 22
Day the girl's family came to know of the rapes