Man posing as transgender tricks resident in Powai flat, commits sexual assault
A 25-year-old air hostess was assaulted after a man pretending to be transgender entered her Powai flat claiming to remove an evil eye, and police arrested the suspect within hours.
Police say Anil Shinde, 28, entered a Powai housing society by masquerading as a transgender person and claiming he could cure an evil eye that was troubling a 25-year-old air hostess and her hospitalized husband. After convincing the building guard and the victim, he entered the flat, sprinkled water on her, placed his hand on her head, and then forced her onto a bed where he sexually assaulted her before escaping with Rs 200.
The assault occurred between 12.20 pm and 12.50 pm, and the victim reported the crime late at night after a female officer gained her trust. A night-shift police team reviewed more than 100 CCTV feeds, traced Shinde’s movements, and arrested him early the next day as he headed to a slum area in Kalwa by rickshaw. Officers, led by DCP Datta Nalawade, will charge Shinde with rape, criminal intimidation and provisions related to black magic, while also investigating any prior similar offenses.
Why it matters
The case highlights risks of deception and sexual violence in residential complexes, prompting safety warnings for residents.
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