A woman accused in a 2020 murder case in Maharashtra`s Palghar district has been arrested from Mumbai after absconding for more than five years, police said on Sunday, reported news agency PTI.

The accused, Dolrin Afrin Ahmed Khan (27), resident of Nallasopara area, allegedly strangulated Pradeep Dayashankar Rai (23) to death on February 12, 2020 at Arnala in Palghar and then staged the scene to make it appear as a suicide, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime) Madan Ballal said, reported PTI.

A preliminary probe suggested a monetary dispute between the accused and the man, a resident of Badlapur in neighbouring Thane district, as the motive behind the crime, he said, reported PTI.

An FIR was then registered under Sections 302 (murder) and 201 (destruction of evidence) of the Indian Penal Code.

As the woman remained at large, the police had filed a chargesheet under Section 299 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), which permits recording of evidence in the absence of an absconding accused, the official said, reported PTI.

“Over the past four months, our team intensified efforts to trace her. Acting on a specific tip-off, we located her at Kandivali in Mumbai and arrested her on October 10. She has now been handed over to Arnala police for further investigation,” Ballal said, reported PTI.

Watchman of housing complex molests teenage girl; held

In another case, a 42-year-old watchman of a prominent housing complex in Maharashtra`s Thane district allegedly inappropriately touched and forcibly hugged a teenage girl residing there, following which he was arrested, officials said on Saturday, reported PTI.

The incident occurred around 2.30 pm on Friday in Khadakpada area of Kalyan, they said.

“When the victim was in the lobby area near the lift in the housing complex, the accused touched her inappropriately and also forcibly hugged her. When the girl managed to break free, he made inappropriate gestures at her,” a official said, reported PTI.

“Immediately after learning about the incident, the residents of the society caught hold of the watchman and handed him over to the police,” he said, reported PTI.

Based on the complaint lodged by the victim, the accused was immediately arrested, the police official said.

A case was registered against him under section 74 (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and also the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) Act at the Khadakpada police station and investigation is underway, reported PTI.

A video of the incident has gone viral on social media.

(With inputs from PTI)

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