Belagavi: A 22-year-old Moulvi was arrested by the Karnataka Police in connection with the alleged rape of a five-year-old girl in the state’s Belagavi district, police said on Wednesday.
The police said that the incident, which took place in 2023, came to light after the CCTV footage went viral on social media.
The police were able to identify the Moulvi and the girl’s parents, leading to the accused’s arrest.
A case has been registered at the Muragod police station, and the accused has been remanded to judicial custody.
According to the police, the victim’s parents knew about the sexual assault on their daughter but were too afraid to file a police report.
The incident came to public attention after Hindu activist Punith Kerehalli shared the video on his social media account.
In his post, he claimed that the girl’s father was seeking justice for his daughter but that people from the mosque had threatened him and were preventing him from contacting the police.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Belagavi Superintendent of Police (SP) Bheemashankar S. Guled said, “Hindu activist Punith Kerehalli had posted a message regarding the case on August 5. The video clip showed a person lying on the girl. The information was immediately provided to the Cybercrimes, Economic and Narcotics Offences (CEN) police station.”
Based on the location shown in the video, the CEN police began an investigation.
The Muragod police later took charge, and it was revealed that the incident had occurred on October 5, 2023.
The accused had attempted to rape the girl, who lived in the house next to the mosque, the SP added.
Police Superintendent Guled said that after learning about the incident, locals spoke to the victim’s father and decided not to file a police complaint.
After the video went viral, police contacted the victim’s parents and attempted to persuade them to file a complaint.
Since the vuctim’s parents would not agree, the Child Welfare Committee filed the case on their behalf.
The accused Moulvi worked as a welder and delivered speeches at the mosque whenever he was free.
Further investigation in the case is underway.
IANS
Foreign tourists robbed on Mandore Express, valuables worth Rs 2 lakh stolen
Jaipur: In a troubling incident highlighting passenger security concerns, two foreign tourists were robbed aboard the Mandore Express traveling from Delhi to Jodhpur. The theft took place late last night,...
ED grills Anil Ambani in Rs 17,000-crore loan fraud
New Delhi: "Were the loans diverted to shell companies?", "Did funds reach political parties?", "Did you bribe any officials?" These were among the questions the Enforcement Directorate (ED) was expected...
IIT-Bombay student commits ‘suicide’ by jumping off hostel building
Mumbai: A student of the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IIT-Bombay) allegedly committed suicide by jumping off the hostel building on Saturday. The 22-year-old student allegedly took the extreme step in...
LOC issued against Anil Ambani in Rs 17,000 crore loan fraud probe
New Delhi: A Look Out Circular (LOC) was issued on Friday against Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG) Chairman Anil Ambani, on the request of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), in connection...
ED summons Anil Ambani in Rs 17,000 crore loan fraud probe
Mumbai: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has summoned Anil Ambani, chairman and managing director of Reliance Group (RAAGA companies), for questioning in connection with its ongoing probe into an alleged...
Dharmasthala mass grave case: SIT recovers bones at 6th burial site
Mangaluru (Karnataka): In a major development in connection with the mass grave allegation case, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) has recovered bones during the excavation of the sixth burial site...
Kerala doctor files rape case against popular Malayalam rapper Vedan
Kochi: Malayalam rapper Hirandas Murali, popularly known as Vedan, has been accused of sexual assault by a doctor, said police in Kerala's Kochi on Thursday, adding that they have registered...
CBI crackdown on builders cheating homebuyers in NCR; 22 cases registered
New Delhi: In a major crackdown on real estate fraud in the National Capital Region (NCR), the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered 22 FIRs against several builders and...
‘Honour killing’: Dalit IT professional hacked to death in TN’s Tirunelveli
Chennai: In yet another suspected case of honour killing, a 26-year-old Dalit IT professional was brutally hacked to death in broad daylight in Tamil Nadu's Tirunelveli district. The victim, Kavin...
‘Chhangur Baba’ arrested by ED in religious conversion racket, sent to 5-day custody
Lucknow: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday arrested Maulana Jalaluddin, also known as ‘Chhangur Baba,’ in connection with a multi-crore religious conversion racket. He was produced before a special ED...
FIR against Islamic cleric for derogatory remarks on SP MP Dimple Yadav
Lucknow: Lucknow Police have registered an FIR against Islamic cleric Maulana Sajid Rashidi for allegedly making objectionable, inflammatory, and misogynistic remarks against Samajwadi Party (SP) leader and Lok Sabha MP...
51 FIRs on violence against women filed every hour: NHRC Chairperson
Lucknow: Stressing on women's safety in public spaces, NHRC Chairperson Justice V. Ramasubramanian highlighted that nearly 51 FIRs related to violence against women are registered in the country every hour,...
