The Juhu police on Friday arrested a 37-year-old man, who has been booked in five cases for allegedly flashing women and minors and making vulgar gestures on multiple occasions in Juhu, Santacruz and Khar.

The accused, Nitin Bharadwaj, a resident of Malad (West), was arrested under sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. He has been remanded in police custody till April 30. Pandharinath Wavhal, senior police inspector at Juhu police station, confirmed the development.

According to the police, Bharadwaj used to go to upscale neighbourhoods and college areas on his two-wheeler or four-wheeler vehicles. Police had been on the lookout for him since last year, but kept getting thrown off as he constantly changed the number plate of his two-wheeler vehicle.

“As the accused used to change the number plate of his two-wheeler often, we kept getting different details from CCTV footage. We then barricaded areas he targeted frequently and increased police presence,” said a police officer.

A team of 15 policemen led by two officers was formed by Paramjit Singh Dahiya, deputy commissioner of police, zone 9. “With the help of local informers and technical surveillance, we nabbed him in Juhu on Friday,” the officer added.

All five cases were registered at Juhu police station

First Published: Apr 28, 2019 02:23 IST