Mumbai horror: Man posing as transgender enters Powai flat, rapes air hostess on pretext of 'curing evil eye'
MUMBAI: A 25-year-old air hostess was sexually assaulted on Tuesday after a man impersonating a transgender person gained entry to her third-floor flat in an upscale Powai housing society on the pretext of performing a ritual to ward off an ‘evil eye’ affecting her and her husband who was hospitalised.Police arrested Anil Shinde (28), from a slum pocket in Kalwa early Wednesday after tracing his movements through more than 100 CCTV cameras from the housing society and surrounding areas.Police said the case was solved within four hours after the entire team on night duty was deployed to trace the accused.Police said Anil Shinde also collected Rs 200 from the victim before leaving the flat after the alleged assault.Apart from sections relating to rape and criminal intimidation, police said they would invoke provisions relating to black magic against Shinde, who is currently in custody.“He claimed that his family is involved in begging by impersonating transgender persons. We are gathering details to find out whether he has committed similar offences in the past,” police said.The incident occurred between 12.20pm and 12.50pm when Shinde, dressed as a transgender person, entered the building and allegedly gained the confidence of the security guard before going upstairs.“Shinde knocked on several flats before the victim opened the door of her third-floor flat. On the pretext of warding off the evil eye, he allegedly committed obscene acts against her will and sexually assaulted her. She came to the police station traumatised and was initially unable to disclose what had happened. A female police officer took her into confidence and managed to learn about the incident, following which the team began tracking the accused,” said DCP (West Zone-3) Datta Nalawade.The victim, who works as an airhostess, was on leave on Wednesday. She told police that her husband was unwell and hospitalised. She said she allowed the accused into the flat after he claimed he could remove the evil eye affecting her family.In her complaint, the woman said the accused sprinkled water on her and placed his hand on her head before taking her into the bedroom. She alleged that he asked her to close her eyes and lie on the bed before sexually assaulting her. She said she screamed, following which the accused fled after taking Rs 200 from her.The woman, who remained traumatised after the incident, reached the police station at around 11 pm, crying. A female police officer helped her feel comfortable enough to narrate the incident.Taking the matter seriously, DCP Nalawade supervised a team comprising senior inspector AS Sawant, inspector Sushant Bandgar, sub-inspector Sandeep Patil and other police personnel. Investigators examined CCTV footage and traced Shinde as he left the building and took a rickshaw towards Kalwa.“Shinde took the rickshaw directly to a slum area in Kalwa after committing the offence,” police said.Police have warned residents against allowing unknown persons into their flats and urged them to verify the identity and purpose of anyone seeking entry.
