Michael DSa is still in police custodyRathodi Village, Malad (W) residents are shocked that their neighbour raped a woman in broad daylight at his residence. On Oct 23, Michael DSa alias Bunty, raped a maidservant at around 9 am.

Michaels neighbour Nawab Khan says, At 9.45 am, I saw Priti (name changed) running out of Michaels house naked. She was screaming. I told my wife to take her in and clothe her.

He adds, She told us that at 9 am, when she was on her way to work, Michael asked her to clean his house. She told him she was busy till Diwali, but he insisted that she see the house. Khan says after she entered his house, he bolted the door, gagged her, dragged her to his bedroom and raped her.

Another eyewitness, on condition of anonymity, confirms this. I was passing Michaels house when I heard a woman screaming. I turned to see Priti running out naked, she says.

After residents heard about the shocking incident, they barged into Michael's house to take him to the police station.

Rafiq Jamadar, a neighbour and one of the witnesses in the case, says, We barged into Michaels house but were met with a disgusting sight. He was standing naked in his bedroom. We wrapped a table cloth around him and took him to Malvani police station and lodged a complaint.

Michael had been molesting women for 6 months, say neighbours

The village of 200 houses is up in arms against Michael and claim they will do everything possible to help the victim. According to Naresh Vithlani, a resident of Rathodi, Priti has been very brave by lodging a complaint against Michael. I will do whatever it takes to ensure he gets punished.

After Priti lodged a complaint, other residents have also come forward and claim that Michael tried to molest them too. Hubert Dias, president, Rathodi Residents Welfare Association, says, We have been getting complaints from female residents for the last six months.

However, they didnt register a complaint with the cops because they feared social ostracisation. We had also spoken to Michaels siblings several times and were hoping they would take care of the situation. He adds, We feel sad that a boy from our village could engage in such a crime.

According to sources, four other women have registered molestation charges against Michael. Kanta, one of the complainants, says, I work as a domestic help.

A month ago Michael stopped me and asked me to clean his house. I assumed since he was living alone there would be hardly any work, so I thought I would finish fast. He asked me to enter his house. He then sat on a chair and asked me to sit next to him. I refused and yelled.

She adds, Meanwhile, an old woman who lives near his house and had seen me entering, informed my husband, because she was aware of his intentions. Apparently Michael had molested that old woman too. My husband rushed to Michaels house, abused him and saved me.

We fear sending our kids there

Due to Michael's behaviour, residents of Rathodi are scared of sending their children near his house. According to Uttam, a resident of Rathodi, "My children have to go for tuitions, but I refuse to send them that side.

Michael has harassed women in our area too. He knocks on doors at odd hours and passes obscene comments. He forcibly enters houses where he sees women.

Michael tried molesting a girl in Orlem

Two months ago I saw a man standing stark naked in the church premises. I then saw a girl run from the same direction and sit in a rickshaw. The man followed her and jumped in the auto too.

The girl became hysterical and started screaming for help. We then pulled him out of the rickshaw but he pulled her handbag and jumped into a passing BEST bus. But the bus driver threw him out. The cops then took him away, says a shopkeeper next to Orlem church.

His wife left him seven months ago

When metro spoke to Michaels wife, she says, I walked out on him seven months ago with my mother and 11-year-old daughter because he was an alcoholic. He used to physically abuse me whenever he was drunk and would also misbehave with other women. She has confirmed the same in her police statement.

Officialspeak

According to an official from Malvani police station, Michael has been arrested and a rape case has been filed against him based on Pritis complaint. However, it is a very sensitive case and we cant divulge any further details. We are investigating. In the meanwhile Priti and her husband will be sent for counselling to cope with this crisis.

nishitha.nair@mid-day.com