Conductor arrested for raping minor at knifepoint

BEST conductor Mahendra Prahlad Chatur (29) was arrested, after he allegedly raped a 14-year-old neighbour at knifepoint at her home on Friday evening. On Sunday, Chatur was produced in the Bandra court and remanded in police custody. The girl, Rekha Jadhav (name changed) has been admitted to Bhagwati Hospital for medical examination and treatment.

Arrested: Mahendra Prahlad Chatur was remanded in police custody after being produced in the Bandra court yesterdayu00a0

A few hours after the incident, the teenager informed her mother, who approached the Samta Nagar police and registered an FIR against Chatur.
Chatur lives next to the accused in Janata Nagar, Poisar, Kandivli (E) along with his mother and sister for the last 10 years. His neighbours described him as a decent man.

Pravin Navadkar, investigation officer of Samta Nagar police station, said, "He raped the girl at knifepoint and left. She narrated the whole incident to her mother, who lodged a complaint. We arrested him under Section 376 (rape) of the IPC."

But a relative of accused said, "He is a very honest and sincere person. He can never do such things. We know him for the last 10 years. These are all false allegations. The girl stays here on rent; she had come here not more than 10 days ago."