Thane: Autorickshaw driver who molested college student, dragged her with vehicle held

The accused. Pic/ Police sources

The Thane Nagar police in Maharashtra arrested a 36 year old auto driver who had molested and dragged a 22-year-old woman while she was on her way to the college. The incident took place on Friday morning and was captured in the CCTV. The police was able to solve the case and nab the culprit within 24 hours, the police said.

According to the police, the officials did not have any clue of the suspect. The police had managed to recover an image of an auto in which its mud guard was visible and it helped in tracing the suspect.

The police said, on October 14 at around 6.45 am when the woman, studying in 11th standard was on her way to college. While she was walking through Mate and Sons Chowk. An auto driver passed a comment on her. The woman raised an alarm and tried to nab the autorikshaw driver who tried to flee from the spot. But she did not lose her grip and got hold of his collar resulting in the girl getting dragged for around 500 meters.

The woman sustained injury on her left hand and leg, she was treated in hospital nearby. On her complaint, an offence was registered by the police under sections 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 354A (sexual harassment) 279 (rash driving) and 336 (Act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the IPC.

Also Read: Woman molested by auto driver, dragged with vehicle in Thane city; cops launch manhunt

While checking the CCTV footage, cops did not get any registration number of the vehicle but found a particular mud guard of the auto at the rear end of the vehicle, an official said.

"The mud guard was of steel and such guards are more common in autos in Navi Mumbai. The woman had also given a description in which we learnt that the accused had long hair and had a health built. Cops launched a manhunt and came to know that a driver named Raju in Digha had similar features," said Jairaj Ranware, Senior Inspector of Thane Nagar police station.

"On Friday night the team working on the case identified the auto. The driver was interrogated and he said that it belongs to one Raju, he gave his whereabouts too. The team immediately reached his home and nabbed him," he added.

The accused was identified as Katikadala alias Raju Virangnelu, a resident of Ganesh Nagar Chawl. Also his auto (MH-43-BC-6515) was seized, the police said.

Investigations has also reveled that on Friday morning Raju had taken a passenger from Kalwa and came to Thane railway station and was eating breakfast. When he saw the woman coming he allegedly molested her. Raju lives with his wife and two children, the police said.