BJP leader arrested for ‘raping teenage girl over four years’ in Mumbai

Sandeep Gopinath Mali, 41, was produced in court on Sunday and remanded to police custody till August 21

A local  Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office-bearer was arrested for allegedly raping a teenage girl at gun point in Mumbai over the past four years.

According to Indian Express, the accused, 41, identified as Sandeep Gopinath Mali currently holds the position of unit vice-president. He had been approaching the victim, now 17-year-old,  by offering her advances. The girl declined his offer and told him to stay away.

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The rejection infuriated the accused, who raped the girl at gunpoint in 2015. He allegedly continued to sexually assault the girl ever since, police reported.

Police took notice after victim lodged an first information report (FIR) on Saturday. They immediately booked Mali under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and arrested the BJP leader.

The accused, who is married and have children, was produced in court on Sunday and remanded to police custody till August 21, police officials said.

The story originally appeared on Indian Express