40-year-old man arrested for allegedly stalking, threatening minor schoolgirl

A 14-year-old girl’s family has lodged a complaint at the Odhav Police Station alleging that a man repeatedly stalked, harassed and threatened the minor while she was on her way to tuition classes in the Odhav area.

The complaint filed on May 18 states that the accused, identified as Laxman Rajbhar,40 allegedly followed the Class 9 student for several days on his motorcycle and, on one occasion, forced her to sit on the vehicle before taking her towards the Vastral area.

Mother of the victim, a homemaker residing in Odhav, stated that her daughter, aged 14 years, attends tuition classes twice daily.

In her complaint, the mother alleged that the accused first began following the girl on May 12 while she was travelling to tuition classes in the morning and evening. The harassment allegedly continued over the next few days.

On May 15, when the girl was on her way to tuition, the accused intercepted her near a relative’s residence and allegedly insisted that she sit on his motorcycle, claiming he had “something important” to say. The girl reportedly refused initially, but the accused allegedly threatened her, following which she became frightened and sat on the motorcycle.

Police said the accused allegedly took the girl towards Vastral and made inappropriate remarks to her during the journey. The minor reportedly objected and asked him not to speak to her in such a manner.

The complaint further alleges that on May 16, the accused again waited outside the society on his motorcycle and attempted to stop the girl from attending tuition classes. Even after she ignored him and continued walking, he allegedly followed her and continued harassing her.

The minor narrated the incidents to her mother on May 17 while crying. The family subsequently approached the accused’s mother and requested that she counsel her son. However, after no resolution emerged, the family lodged a formal police complaint.

Odhav police officials said, "We have arrested the accused in the matter, he is married and also has children, further investigation regarding the matter is on."