Tragic Death in Custody and Series of Assault Cases Stir Mumbai

A 22-year-old man arrested for stalking and assaulting a teen girl died in custody, while multiple rape and blackmail cases involving other suspects emerged in Mumbai. Police are actively investigating these troubling incidents.

A 22-year-old man, who was arrested for stalking and assaulting a teenage girl, passed away at JJ Hospital on September 24. He had been admitted after complaining of uneasiness while lodged in a Mumbai jail, police reported on Wednesday. The accused, identified as Arif Mehboob Qureshi, had been placed in judicial custody on September 20 for assaulting and stalking a 16-year-old girl.

According to the police, Qureshi's health deteriorated, leading to his admission to JJ Hospital on September 22. Unfortunately, he passed away on the morning of September 25. An Accidental Death Report (ADR) has been filed at the NM Joshi Marg Police Station. The cause of death remains unknown as investigations continue.

In an unrelated case on Sunday, police registered a case against three individuals accused of raping and blackmailing a 22-year-old woman. The victim, residing in the Nalasopara area of Palghar, accused Sanju Srivastava, Naveen Singh, and Hema Singh. Allegedly, Sanju and Naveen had called the victim under the guise of giving her money, spiked her drink with intoxicants, and raped her. Naveen recorded the incident and repeatedly blackmailed her. Despite police efforts, all three suspects remain at large.

In a separate incident on Tuesday, police arrested one individual and are searching for another suspect in connection with the gang-rape and blackmail of a 16-year-old girl in Palghar's Nalasopara neighborhood. The suspects threatened to release a video of the assault if the victim went to the authorities.

(With inputs from agencies.)