In a shocking incident in Pune, a Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader from Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's faction has been held for allegedly raping a young woman and a minor girl on the premises of an NGO run by him, officials said on Thursday. The accused has been identified as Shantanu Kukde, who runs an NGO named Red House Foundation in the Nana Peth area of the city, they added.
According to the police, Kukde approached the woman and the girl under the pretext of providing help through his NGO. "Kukde brought both of them to the office of his NGO and arranged their accommodation. He established illicit physical relations with them," said Sandip Singh Gill, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 1) of Pune Police.
FIR Lodged
Umesh Gitte, Senior Police Inspector (Samarth Police Station), added, "We have registered an FIR on March 25. Accordingly, Kukde has been arrested under various sections of the BNS and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. He is currently in police custody. After the remand date ends, we will produce him before the court and demand the extension of his custody."
Meanwhile, during the inspection of Kukde's NGO, several empty liquor bottles were found, raising suspicions about activities taking places on the premises.
Police Are Trying to Hide the Matter: Dhangekar
Meanwhile, former Kasba MLA and leader of Shinde Sena, Ravindra Dhangekar, said, "The matter came to light two days later. It seems the police are trying to hide the matter. In the name of an NGO, Kukde has converted the number of male and female to another religion. A lot of illegal transactions have been found in the NGO's bank account. Under the pretext of helping people, Kukde took advantage and kept many girls and women inside the NGO premises. A fair investigation should be done without any political pressure."
Dhangekar also alleged that Kukde had set up a pub inside the NGO, and a number of political leaders came to the place for enjoyment.
"How many children have been converted, and what are the financial transactions of the NGO? The police need to investigate deeply. This is not a single case; if the police investigate properly, cases of rape and molestation could increase. The police are trying to hide the matter, as the issue came to light two days later. We have given a letter to the Women’s Commission head, Rupali Chakankar, to intervene and ensure a thorough investigation is conducted. I also requested DCM Ajit Pawar to remove such leaders and party workers from their sanction if they are found guilty," he added.
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