Maharashtra Auto Driver Held For Raping 18-Year-Old Tourist

An autorickshaw driver has been held in Maharashtra for allegedly raping an 18-year-old woman who was visiting the state. Reports suggest the woman, who hails from Jashpur, Chattisgarh, was in Mumbai to celebrate Christmas and New Year's. The FIR states the auto driver raped her on December 27, when she was travelling between Panvel to Gandhi Garden locality. A case has been registered against him under necessary sections of the IPC.

PTI quoted Panvel senior inspector Ajay Landge describing the crime incident, "On December 27, the woman hired an autorickshaw at Panvel to go to Gandhi Garden locality. However, the autorickshaw driver drove her to an isolated place near the Wadghar river bank and dragged her to bushes. He raped her after threatening to smash her head with a stone."

Also Read: Shakti Act: Maharashtra Cabinet Approves Draft Bill To Curb Crimes Against Women And Children

Details About The Rape Case

Landge reportedly said the 26-year-old accused was arrested from Poyanje village within 12 hours of committing the crime on Sunday. As per reports, since the survivor was new to the area, the police depended on information from other auto drivers to arrest him.

According to an NDTV report, the woman had travelled to Jharkhand and then Delhi, before reaching Mumbai on December 22. Upon finding her alone, authorities at Bandra railway station handed her over to Child Helpline services, from where she was taken to a shelter. She was soon released, after which she befriended a man and stayed with him for a day.

A case against the auto driver has been registered under sections 376 and 506- 2 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Also Read: Death Penalty For Rape Bill To Be Tabled In Parliament

Maha Govt's Shakti Bill

Earlier this month, the Maharashtra government presented two bills to the state assembly: the Maharashtra Shakti Criminal Law (Maharashtra Amendment) Act, 2020, and the Special Court & Machinery for Implementation of Maharashtra Shakti Criminal Law, 2020.

The Shakti bill according to the state government is designed to help reduce the crimes against women and children. The draft bill seeks to amend some vital sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act.

However, a letter signed by 92 activists, lawyers, women’s organisations, and academicians asked for the withdrawal of the bill, calling it a "draconian legislation." Read more here.