Faridabad police on Wednesday arrested a 53-year-old man on charges of raping his 12-year-old granddaughter and impregnating her. The minor gave birth to a child in November and was in a critical condition for over two months after that, police said, adding that a case was registered in the matter after the child’s mother reported the crime on December 6 in Kolkata, West Bengal. A zero FIR was registered and the man was arrested from Faridabad, they said.
The minor gave birth to a child in November and was in a critical condition for over two months after that, police said. (HT FILE)
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Police said the mother and daughter had gone to Kolkata in November for a festival. On November 17, the victim complained of abdominal pain and was taken to a private hospital where doctors informed them that the girl was 24 weeks pregnant, said police.
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The police in Faridabad said they received the FIR through post in December but before they could arrest the suspect, he fled his rented room. The suspect switched off his mobile number and kept changing locations after he learnt from villagers that a case has been registered against him and that the police were looking for him, said police.
Yogesh Kataria, station house officer of Palla police station, Faridabad, said the minor’s mother told the police that her daughter confided in her about the sexual assault by her grandfather. The child delivered prematurely after which she was in a critical condition for over two months. “The child told the mother that the grandfather used to rape her when her parents were away at work. We have recorded her statement and are verifying all allegations. She gave birth to a baby prematurely but the infant is doing well,” he said.
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The suspect was arrested from Palla area in Faridabad on Wednesday night and was sent to judicial custody after being produced before the court.
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The suspect was arrested from Palla area in Faridabad on Wednesday night and was sent to judicial custody after being produced before the court.
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The minor is stable and undergoing treatment at a private hospital. The suspect was booked under sections 376 (rape), 315 (act done with intent to prevent a child being born alive) of the Indian Penal Code and under sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act.
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest.
Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents.
Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure.
Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing.
Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity.
Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations.
Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling.
A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.
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