Pune: Priest Arrested For Molesting Child, Third FIR In Five Years

Mubarak Ansari

Pune, 27th November 2022: A Catholic priest has been arrested by Pune city police for allegedly sexually abusing a 15-year-old boy. A special court has remanded him to one-day police custody.

Based on a complaint from a social activist, Bund Garden police station registered the FIR yesterday for offences under relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Five other priests are co-accused in the case as they did not inform the police after a complaint was made to them.

According to the FIR, the incident took place on 21st November 2021 at Pune railway station. The victim was going to his native place with his parents when the accused approached them with a cake. He asked his parents to go inside the station with the luggage and then took the child behind an autorickshaw.

“The priest asked me obscene questions, and also whether I watch pornographic videos. He also touched my private part. He threatened to beat me if I told my parents about it,” the FIR states, quoting the child.

Assistant Police Inspector Shilpa Lambe is further investigating the case. The Accused’s lawyer Milind Pawar refuted the allegations. “My client was out on interim bail when police registered another bogus case. Today the court remanded him to one-day police custody,” Pawar added.

The boy had informed his parents on the way. When they returned, the accused went to their home without informing and again molested the child on December 4, 2021. Kondhwa police station registered an FIR against the accused on October 4 this year. He was arrested and is currently out on interim bail.

In 2018, Wanowrie police station had earlier registered a similar case against him. He was released on interim bail in that case also.