Priest Molests Daughter, Arrested

By Manish K Pathak
DNA
September 4, 2012

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_priest-molests-daughter-arrested_1736340

The Amboli police on Saturday arrested a father who had allegedly been sexually abusing his 17-year-old daughter for the past few months.

The arrested accused has been identified as Shantaram Gaikwad, 48, a resident of Amboli and a priest at a temple in Andheri (W).

According to the police, the victim, in her complaint, stated that her father had been touching her inappropriately over the past few months. Initially, she did not tell anyone as her Gaikwad had asked her to keep mum about it, threatening her with dire consequences.

"Then, around ten days ago, the mother walked in on them and saw what was going on. The girl then told her mother everything, after which the two of them came to the police station to lodge a complaint against Gaikwad. Gaikwad, however, pleaded with his wife and daughter and said that he would not do such a thing again," said a police officer.

The police registered complaint a under section 504 of the IPC (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) against Gaikawad and let him off with a warning. "But, after reaching home, Gaikwad allegedly beat his daughter and wife up," the officer added.

The duo then left the house and moved into a relative's place. They then approached an NGO and a few members of a local political party, with the help of whom a case was registered against Gaikwad at Amboli police station under section 354 of the IPC (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty).

"We arrested the accused on Saturday, following the complaint registered by the victim," said a police officer of the Amboli police station.