Maharashtra: Four held for rape of 48-year-old woman, extortion in Raigad

Four persons were held by the Raigad Police in Maharashtra in connection with the alleged repeated rape of a 48-year-old woman and extortion

The Raigad Police in Maharashtra have arrested four persons in connection with the alleged repeated rape of a 48-year-old woman and extortion, an official said on Friday, reported the PTI.

Based on a complaint, the Mahad police on Thursday arrested four men, while another accused is absconding in the case, the official said.

One of the accused was acquainted with the victim, whose husband was working abroad, he said.

The man allegedly raped the woman on different occasions between 2018 and 2024 on the pretext of helping her with domestic issues, the official said, as per the PTI.

He also threatened and blackmailed her using objectionable photographs and videos, which he had shot and shared with the other four accused, he said.

The accused men also extorted Rs 2.2 lakh from the victim, and when their demands started increasing, she approached the police, the official said, according to the PTI.

Meanwhile, in an another incident in Rajasthan, four coaching students were arrested on Thursday in connection with the alleged gang rape of a 16-year-old girl, police said, reported the PTI.

The matter came to light after the teenager's classmates found she was suffering form depression and informed the officials concerned who then sent the girl to a counselling session during which she revealed the incident, ASP Uma Sharma of Kota women harassment cell said, as per the PTI.

The incident took place on February 10 and the victim, a student taking NEET preparation at a coaching centre, and a case was lodged on Tuesday after the police were informed, Sharma said.

The girl, in her complaint, said she came in contact with another NEET aspirant residing here through social media.

On the day of the incident, the accused allegedly called the girl to his apartment on some pretext and raped her while three other students helped commit the crime, Sharma said.

Based on the teenager's complaint, the police on Tuesday lodged a case of gang rape under sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and detained the four accused, the ASP said, the news agency reported on Thursday.

All the accused were preparing for entrance exams at this coaching hub, she said, adding that they were arrested on Thursday after interrogation, she said.
One of the accused hails from West Bengal, while the others are from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, all aged between 18 years and 19 years, the officer said.

Further investigation in the matter was handed over to Circle Officer (Kota central), she added.

(with PTI inputs)

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