NAVI MUMBAI: NRI Coastal Police on Friday registered an FIR against the priest of a Christian sect for alleged sexual assault on a 14-year-old girl accommodated ‘illegally’ at the orphange run by the sect.
Senior inspector Ravindra Patil said, “Acting on a complaint by Pallavi Jadhav, an official of Thane District Child Protection Cell, alleging that the priest of the sect was repeatedly sexually assaulting a minor at the orphanage, we recorded the victim’s statement in her presence and booked the accused under section 8 of the Pocso Act.”
Patil said on August 5, Thane District Women & Child Development Department had rescued 45 children, including boys and girls aged three to 18 from the orphanage at Seawoods that was allegedly being illegally run by the sect.
The orphanage trust authorities were unable to produce documents for accommodating orphans. Of the 45 rescued, 27 were shifted to a juvenile home in Ulhasnagar, while the others were kept at the orphanage.
Patil said, “After officials of the cell questioned 18 children at the orphanage, a 14-year-old girl confided to Jadhav. “
“She claimed the priest used to come to her room and apply an ointment on her body and allegedly touched her inappropriately. We will question other minors and the orphanage, and legal action will be taken against the accused,” he added.
(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme court directives on cases related to sexual assault)
