Man arrested for rape, murder of 45-yr-old woman

The victim, who lived with her husband in Modgaon village at Kasa in Thane, had gone to stay at her mother's place in the same village.

On Friday, the accused, Nilesh H Gavit (36), took the woman to his house, offered her liquor and then allegedly raped her when she was inebriated, assistant police inspector B T Chowdhari said Sunday.

Later, in order to destroy evidence, he strangulated her to death with her saree, police said.

Following a complaint filed by the victim's mother, police arrested Gavit last night.

The accused has been charged under sections 376 (rape) and 302 (murder) of IPC, police said adding that further investigation was on.u00a0