Minor girl given for adoption to late mom's neighbour raped, youth held

MUMBAI: Mira Road police have arrested an 18-year-old youth for allegedly raping his 17-year-old adopted niece. The girl who along with her younger brother and a cousin sister were given for adoption to their late mother's neighbour after they lost both their parents in a span of four months. The police have also booked three other members of the family.
The girl, a class 12th student, left her adopted home and approached the police on August 9. The teenager had lost her father to cardiac stroke in September last year. Her mother had died by suicide in January. The siblings were taken to their paternal grandparents' home in Kandivli. Within 10 days, the teenager and her cousin were moved to an orphanage in Andheri after approaching the Child Welfare Committee (CWC). The brother was sent to a residential school in Boisar. As the teenager was keen on pursuing her education, she approached the CWC to be given for adoption to a 54-year-old woman, who was her late mother's neighbour. The CWC officers visited the family, and the siblings were sent to stay with them in April.
 

In her complaint, the teenager stated about not being allowed to pursue their education and instead being forced to change their religion. They also accused the family of physically harassing them and making them do household chores. The teenager stated that when she protested against the torture, the family threatened to send them back to the orphanage.
She said the accused sexually abused her earlier this month, while others were asleep. She left home on August 8, spent the night out and approached the police the next day.