A police constable has been arrested in Bengaluru for allegedly raping a minor, who was sexually assaulted by her neighbour earlier.

Arun Thonepa, a constable in his late 30s, befriended the girl in December last when her mother sought police intervention against a neighbour harassing her daughter to marry him.

The neighbour had promised to marry the girl and allegedly raped her. However, the mother later found that both the neighbour and the constable had raped her daughter. She then rushed to file a complaint against the two under the POCSO Act on February 13. In her complaint, the mother accused Thonepa of developing a physical relationship with her daughter after giving her beer laced with sleeping pills. In December, the girl and her mother went to the Bommanahalli police station, claiming that Vickey was harassing the girl. However, the girl did not mention anything about the rape, and her mother stated she was unaware of it. Later, Thonepa found out that Vickey had made physical contact with the girl, befriended her, and took her to a hotel room.

The mother alleged that he gave her beer laced with sleeping pills and then raped her. He threatened her, saying he had recorded the act on his mobile and would upload it on social media if she dared to file a police complaint against him.

Arun Thonepa, attached to Bommanahalli police station was arrested a few days after they arrested the other perpetrator. Thonepa, who is married and has a minor son, had fled the city soon after the complaint was lodged against them.

Source: TOI 

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