In a swift and tech-driven operation, the Dindoshi police arrested a 41-year-old man for molesting a young woman returning from work along a deserted stretch of Goregaon, exploiting darkness to carry out the crime
Santosh Kanhaiyalal Sharma, a native of Uttar Pradesh who had moved to Mumbai a few months ago in search of work, was arrested within 48 hours of the complaint, despite the absence of direct eyewitnesses, after the police scanned footage of more than 170 CCTV cameras and used technical surveillance to track him down.
The incident
According to the police, the incident occurred around 7:30 pm on January 31, in an isolated area near Jyoti Complex, Santosh Nagar, Film City Road. The 20-year-old woman, who works in a private company and lives with her family in Goregaon, was allegedly followed by Sharma on her way home. Taking advantage of the deserted surroundings and darkness, he reportedly grabbed her from behind, covered her mouth with his hand to prevent her from screaming, and touched her inappropriately.
When he tried to drag her further into the dark, the woman fought back, biting his hand and screaming for help. Startled, Sharma fled using the cover of darkness. The woman later narrated the ordeal to her family and subsequently approached the Dindoshi police station, where she filed a complaint against the unknown person.
Police investigation
Deputy Commissioner of Police Mahesh Chimte and Assistant Commissioner of Police Vijay Bhise directed a special investigation under the supervision of Senior Police Inspector Mahendra Shinde. The probe was carried out by Police Sub-Inspectors Nitin Nandile and Nitin Savne, who meticulously scanned more than 170 CCTV cameras around the crime scene. Due to poor lighting, identifying the suspect was initially challenging.
A police officer involved in the investigation said, “Because of the darkness, facial identification was difficult. However, by tracking suspicious movement across multiple camera feeds and using technical inputs, we were able to zero in on the suspect.” On February 3, Sharma was detained. Police noticed bite marks on his hand, matching the complainant’s account, and she identified him at the police station.
Arrest and remand
The accused, a barber by profession, was produced before a Borivli court, which remanded him in judicial custody. The police say Sharma confessed to the crime during interrogation.
