Man arrested in Surat for rape of woman when she was minor

The man, an autorickshaw driver, has been booked under sections 376(2)(N) (rape committed repeatedly on same woman), 376(2)(J) (commits rape, on a woman incapable of giving consent), 376 (2)(H) (commits rape on a woman knowing her to be pregnant), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 504 (intentional insult to provoke breach of peace) and 506(2) (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code as well as under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocity) Act.

In her complaint filed at Pandesara police station on Thursday, the woman claimed that she came in contact with the man around seven years ago, when he used to take her to the powerloom factory where she worked and drop her back home. During this time, they entered into a relationship.

The woman further alleged that in April 2018, the man raped her and took videos and photographs of the act. He then threatened to make them public and to harm her family members if she did not continue the relationship.

She added in the complaint that she eloped with the man to Delhi in 2019 and started staying as a couple in a rented room. She gave birth to their daughter in January 2021.

After spending some time in Delhi, the man took her to his native place in UP, where he stayed with her for a few months, the woman alleged, adding that following this, he had an affair with another woman and she decided to return to Surat.

Pandesara police Inspector N K Kamaliya said, “On the basis of victim’s statements, we have registered an offence and arrested the accused. We will record his statement.”