One held, three booked for rape of woman

A man has been arrested and three others, including a couple, have been booked in connection with the alleged rape of a 22-year-old woman in Bhiwandi in the district, police said today.

The arrested accused, Satish Nikalwar, had allegedly repeatedly sexually assaulted the victim between August 2015 and June 2018, police said.

Thane police spokesperson Sukhada Narkar said Nikalwar was arrested today by Shanti Nagar police in Bhiwandi.

"Nikalwar raped the victim repeatedly for nearly three years on the false promise of marriage. The man forced her to terminate her pregnancy three times. He also extorted money from her by issuing threats," a police official said.

Rabia, an acquaintance of Nikalwar, took the victim to her house in November 2017 and offered her a spiked drink. After she fell unconscious, Rabia asked a man, who is yet to be identified, to rape her, the official said.

She video-graphed the entire act. Therafter, she threatened the victim that she would make the video viral on the social media and extorted Rs 43,000 from her, police said.

The victim's misery did not end there. On April 21 this year, Rabia's husband raped her at their place. When she became pregnant, they forced her to abort, police said.

"Police registered an offence in this connection last night. All the accused have been booked sections 376 (rape), 384 (extortion), 328 (causing hurt by means of poison, etc., with intent to commit an offence), 420 (cheating), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and others," Narkar said.

Further investigation is on.