On the 26th of July, the Maharashtra Police took decisive action against four individuals, Shadab Tamboli, Yusuf Chaughule, Kunal Shirole, and Ayaz Pathan, following allegations of prolonged criminal conduct against a minor girl in Ghargaon village, located in Ahmednagar district. These men, known for their criminal backgrounds, are accused of harassing, sexually assaulting the minor, and even threatening her life over a span of approximately two years.

The legal charges brought against them are severe, including multiple sections of the newly implemented Bhartiya Nyay Samhita, 2023—specifically sections 137(2), 87, 123, 64(2), 351(2), 49, 74, 75, 78, and 3(5). Additionally, they face charges under sections 8 and 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, reflecting the gravity of their actions against a child.

A detailed report from the complaint, as obtained by OpIndia, reveals that Shadab first encountered the girl shortly after her father's death in 2020. He, along with Yusuf, initially visited the village to play cricket but soon started surveilling the young girl, who was in the 9th standard at the time. Their reprehensible behavior escalated over the following years, culminating in the charges filed last week.

In January 2020, the situation began when Yusuf convinced the minor girl to start talking to Shadab, telling her that Shadab was in 'love' with her and wanted them to be together. The girl, influenced by Yusuf’s words, began interacting with Shadab. Meanwhile, Shadab had managed to get her phone number and started calling her regularly, despite her discomfort.

By February 2020, the interactions took a more troubling turn when Shadab forcefully kissed the girl, which she immediately resisted, expressing her disapproval of such behavior. Her family came to know of these incidents and warned Shadab to stay away from their daughter. Heeding this warning, Shadab stayed away for a few months, especially after the girl moved to Sangamner to continue her education at a high school college.

“In 2021, he began calling me constantly to meet. One day he came outside my college and forced me to meet in a nearby cafe. He forcefully captured photos with me and said that he was in love with me. He also tried to forcefully kiss me and on refusing he threatened saying that he would make my photos viral on social media,” the girl said in the complaint.

In 2023, the girl pursued her education further by enrolling in a college in Otur, Junnar. Unfortunately, the distance did not deter her pursuers. Shadab, along with Yusuf, tracked her down to this new location and continued their harassment. This time, their intimidation escalated to blackmail, with both individuals pressuring her into marriage.

“I was fed up and tensed. I asked the duo to stop blackmailing and told them that I would commit suicide if harassed more. I also told them that they would be blamed for my death. After this Shadab stopped harassing me and began talking nicely to me. He told me he would delete all my photos and stop following me. At that time Kunal Shirole approached me and began proposing to me for marriage on behalf of Shadab. He said Shadab was in love with me and insisted I marry him. I thought that was it but I was wrong,” the girl added.

On July 7th of the same year, the relentless Shadab contacted the girl again, this time under the guise of resolving their issues once and for all. However, his intentions were far from peaceful. He, with the aid of Yusuf, abducted her and transported her to Pune under false pretenses.

During this abduction, the girl was given water laced with a sedative, which caused her to lose consciousness. Unbeknownst to her, this act of drugging was part of a sinister plan to forcibly marry her off. The ordeal worsened as she was moved between various cities, including Mumbai, and was confined in different accommodations in Sanpada. Throughout this harrowing time, she endured not only physical confinement but also psychological torment, with threats against her life and the well-being of her family. The perpetrators even threatened to release obscene photos of her.

The culmination of this prolonged abuse was her forced marriage and conversion to Islam in Bandra, a revelation she bravely shared with the police, detailing the sensational and distressing reality of her situation. This account, marked by its vivid details of coercion and manipulation, underscores the severe violations of her rights and dignity.

From the victim's statement, it has been revealed that for nearly five years, she was deceitfully enticed with promises of love, only to be forcibly taken to various locations where she was compelled to marry and convert.

The police have further clarified the extent of the orchestration behind these actions. Since 2020, the main perpetrator, Shadab Tamboli, assisted by Yusuf Chowghule and Kunal Shirole, periodically pursued the victim. Utilizing emotional manipulation, they presented an illusion of affection to draw her into their trap.

A critical episode in this prolonged abuse occurred when Chowghule used his car (No. MH. 17, BX. 0097) to transport the victim from Manchar to Chakan under the guise of marriage. During this journey, she was rendered unconscious with a drug-laced substance, further impairing her ability to resist or understand the unfolding events.

“They transferred me to another vehicle and took away my bag and phone. I was half unconscious so I could not recognize what was happening to me. Shadab and Yusuf took me to some men named Adil and Ayaz Pathan. One woman was also helping them. Ayaz then asked Shadab to take me to Mumbai’s Sanpada area. We reached some hotel where Shadab threatened me and sexually assaulted me,” the girl recounted in her complaint.

This detailed account from the victim paints a harrowing picture of her ordeal, where she was not only physically transported against her will but was also stripped of her personal belongings and autonomy, leaving her vulnerable to further abuse and manipulation by the accused and their associates. This systematic and orchestrated violation of her rights highlights the severity and premeditation of the crimes committed against her.

The minor girl further revealed the manipulative tactics employed by the accused to control and intimidate her. She recounted how they used the threat of releasing her photos on social media to blackmail her into submission. Despite her resistance, Shadab sexually assaulted her. Afterward, he led her to Ayaz, who escalated the threats, explicitly threatening her life and demanding her cooperation.

“She added that the accused blackmailed her saying that he had her photos which he would release on social media platforms. ‘I kept on refusing. However, Shadab sexually assaulted me. Later he took me to Ayaz who threatened me to death and asked me to cooperate,’ she added.”

The trauma did not cease there. On the 8th of July, she was again sexually assaulted. The following day, a forced marriage was orchestrated by Shadab, Yusuf, and Ayaz. During this coerced ceremony, the girl was compelled to sign documents written in Urdu, a language she might not fully understand, under the threat of further harm. Shadab later declared to her that they were now married and she was his legal wife, ignoring her protests and lack of consent.

“I was shocked. I told him that I did not believe in this marriage and the documents. However, he threatened and continued to sexually assault me,” the girl stated.

This harrowing episode came to light on the 10th of July when the police successfully intercepted and detained the accused. Once in custody, the girl bravely shared her distressing experiences at the police station, detailing how she was abducted, repeatedly threatened, and sexually assaulted by the accused. This account enabled the authorities to piece together the extent of the atrocities she endured and proceed with appropriate legal actions against the perpetrators.

Following the comprehensive and distressing complaint lodged by the minor girl, immediate legal actions were taken against the individuals implicated in this grievous affair. Shadab Tamboli, Yusuf Chaughule, Kunal Shirole, and Ayaz Pathan were formally charged by the police under the provisions of the Bhartiya Nyay Samhita, 2023, and sections 8 and 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012. These charges reflect the serious nature of their offenses, emphasizing the legal framework in place to protect minors from such egregious violations.

In a significant development within the investigation, the police intensified their efforts to apprehend Yusuf Chowghule, identified as the ringleader of this criminal group. Success came when Sub Divisional Police Officer Somnath Waghchoure's team located and arrested him in Srirampur. Following his arrest, he was brought before a court and consequently remanded in police custody until July 31. Despite this progress, the authorities reported that three of the accused individuals remained at large, complicating the pursuit of complete justice in this case.

As the investigation progresses, further inquiries are being conducted to uncover additional details and gather more evidence. This ongoing effort underscores the commitment of the law enforcement agencies to thoroughly investigate and prosecute all aspects of this case, ensuring that all those involved are held accountable for their actions. The community and the victim's family await further developments as the police continue their diligent work to bring all perpetrators to justice.