Rapist RPF constable’s NGO under scanner

GRP trying to ascertain if he had abused other women needing help in the past

The Pune-based NGO under the garb of which Railway Protection Force (RPF) Pune head constable Anil Pawar roped in beggars, elderly women and minors is now under the scanner. Government Railway Police (GRP), Pune, which is investigating the case of the minor girl who was raped by Pawar and his associate, found that her name was not listed in the RPF records. Officers are now scrutinising records of the NGO Siddharth Multipurpose Society and their ‘rescue and rehabilitation’ work to ascertain whether Pawar had targeted any women in past.

Pawar and his family are absconding and a dedicated team has been formed to track him down. The GRP arrested Pawar’s associate Kamlesh Tiwari who is working with the NGO and is accused of holding the 17-year-old runaway girl captive and raping her in their NGO office. The NGO, which is registered in the name of Pawar’s brother-in-law, runs from the RPF quarters at Tadiwala Road, Pune.

“The NGO was registered in the year 2000 and works to rehabilitate beggars, elderly women and runaway minors. We are checking the records and trying to understand what is the connection between the RPF and this NGO. We will cross-check them with the RPF records as well,” said a Pune GRP officer.

Meanwhile, Tiwari was produced in court on Tuesday and remanded in police story till November 6. “Tiwari has been working with the NGO for the past year as a helper. But he denies having any connection with the rape,” said another GRP officer.

“We have seized the records of the NGO which will help us understand how many women and minors they have worked with and have to cross-check these numbers with the RPF records,” Mahesh Devikar, sub-divisional police officer, GRP, Pune.  

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No of days minor was held captive

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