29-year-old tattoo artist rapes 14-year-old in Mumbai, held

According to the police, the accused took the minor to a shed, he had rented for making tattoos, and raped her.

A 29-year-old tattoo artist was arrested on Wednesday for kidnapping and raping a 14-year-old girl in Shahunagar.

The arrested accused claims he was under the influence of drugs. (HT File)

According to the police, the accused took the minor to a shed, he had rented for making tattoos, and raped her. He claims he was under the influence of drugs. The minor, in her statement to the police, allegedly said on Monday night, her parents asked her to return from her neighbour’s house

On her way, the accused approached her. “He threatened her to join him, and forcefully made her sit on his bike,” said an officer of Shahunagar police station. He then took her to a shed and raped her. “The girl claims she fled in the morning when he was asleep,” said the officer.

As she did not return, the girl’s parents approached Shahunagar police station and a case under section 363 of the IPC was registered. “We found that the shed was rented to a tattoo artist, who had stopped coming there for past four months. We found that he stays in Dharavi,” said Tukarama Dighe, sub-inspector.

“He confessed that he kidnapped the girl, but was not aware of what he did as he was under the influence of drugs and alcohol. He claims he had a fight at home,” added Dighe. The girl is admitted to Sion Hospital.