Cop accused of rape sent to police custody

A day after police sub-inspector Manoj Londhe was arrested for allegedly raping and threatening a 21-year-old airline employee over a period of two years, the Kurla metropolitan magistrate’s court remanded in police custody until May 14.

A day after police sub-inspector Manoj Londhe was arrested for allegedly raping and threatening a 21-year-old airline employee over a period of two years, the Kurla metropolitan magistrate’s court remanded in police custody until May 14.

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The case has been transferred to the Shahu Nagar police station, where senior inspector Lata Dhonde will investigate the case. “We transferred the case to Dhonde as the victim would be more comfortable discussing the case with a woman officer,” said Vineet Agarwal, additional commissioner of police (central region).

On Sunday, the Vinoba Bhave Nagar police had registered a case against Londhe, who was posted at Gadchiroli, after the victim filed a complaint alleging that he had been abusing and raping her for the last two years. The Kurla resident also claimed that he extorted money from her by threatening to post MMS clips of her on the internet.

“We will check Londhe’s mobile phone to find out if there are any MMS clips and also check if any videos have been uploaded on the internet,” said a police officer.

The police will check Londhe’s bank account details to verify the victim’s claims that he had taken money from her.

In her statement to the police, the victim said she had first met Londhe, a 2007 batch state police officer, when she had gone to the Vinoba Bhave Nagar police station two years ago. The two — both are married — then allegedly had an affair. Later, according to the complaint, Londhe started blackmailing her for money. Even after he was transferred to Gadchiroli last year, the victim claimed he continued to harass her for money.

Londhe allegedly came to the city last week and tried to force himself upon the victim.