TG Pavilion rape: Phone of accused sent for forensic tests

The Gamdevi police have sent the mobile phone of 38-year-old Datta Kothavale, a security official from Mahalaxmi, who was arrested in connection with a rape case, for forensic analysis.

The Gamdevi police have sent the mobile phone of 38-year-old Datta Kothavale, a security official from Mahalaxmi, who was arrested in connection with a rape case, for forensic analysis.

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Police said the 35-year-old victim alleged that Kothavale shot objectionable videos of her on that phone. The police are awaiting the test report.

The Gamdevi police arrested Kothavale for raping the 35-year-old coconut vendor, who had a stall on the premises of the trust grounds. The trust manages the Trimbakeshwar and the Dhakleshwar temples and has a piece of land, where around 15 hawkers, including the victim, operates.

Kothavale, who has been working there for the past five years, was arrested last Thursday from Mumbai Central ST depot after he returned from Dharwad.

An officer of Gamdevi police station, on condition of anonymity said, “During the course of investigation, we recovered Kothavale’s mobile phone and scanned it but found nothing objectionable in it. That’s why we have sent it for forensic analysis to get further clarity on the data.” The forensic experts will be able to retrieve the data in case Kothavale has deleted anything, police said.