Mumbai Crime: Admin of chat group rapes woman at hotel in Belapur, arrested

Photo used for representational purpose. Pic/AFP

The Mumbai Police on Saturday arrested a social activist for allegedly raping a woman from Navi Mumbai, whom he met through a social messaging group. Police officials said the accused was the admin of the group formed for social causes, while the woman was a member of the group.

According to a report in the Hindustan Times, the accused, identified as Bapu Patil (39), a resident of Solapur, is also the admin head of the World Maratha Organisation. He met the complainant two years ago and asked her to handle group activities in Navi Mumbai. The two were in constant touch over different activities of their group.

"During the lockdown, he shared his financial problem with the complainant, following which she lent him Rs 72,000. In January, the accused asked her to meet in a hotel in Belapur to return her money. He also asked her to attend a conference in the hotel to enhance her business skill. When the woman went to the hotel room, he allegedly raped her, clicked her pictures in compromising state, and threatened to circulate it if she complains against him," a police officer said.

Senior inspector Anil Patil of Belapur police station confirmed that Patil has been arrested under Section 376 (sexual assault) of the Indian Penal Code.