Man molests minor on Deccan Queen, held

The Dadar Railway Police have arrested a 33-year-old Pune resident for allegedly molesting a teenaged girl aboard an express train on Thursday morning.

Thee victim, aged 14, is a resident of Sangli, was travelling to Mumbai from Pune with family members on the Deccan Queen.

Senior police inspector Nitin Bobade, Dadar Railway Police, said, “The girl and her family members were standing near the door of the general compartment. When the train was between Matunga and Dadar stations, she felt someone touch her shoulder. She turned around to see a man standing behind her. She accused him of molesting her, and raised an alarm.”

When several co-passengers responded to her cries for help, the accused locked himself in a washroom, and attempts to make him come out failed. By this time, the train had reached Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), and passengers alerted the railway police. With the passengers’ help, the police team was able to convince the accused to unlock the washroom door.

The accused has been identified as Arvind Pund, a resident of Pune. He was taken to CSMT railway police station, and charged with outraging a woman's modesty under the IPC and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.

Mr. Bobade said, “As the incident took place in our jurisdiction, the CSMT railway police transferred the FIR to us. We have arrested the accused.”