60-year-old man held for raping daughter over nine years

Mumbai, Mar 19 (PTI) In a shocking case, a sexagenarian
allegedly raped his daughter repeatedly over a span of nine
years at the behest of an occultist, who said the act would
bring prosperity to the family.

The 21-year-old victim, who had been silent about the
incident, mustered courage to approach the police after her
businessman-father attempted to rape her 15-year-old younger
sister.

Besides the father, the Mira Road police in neighbouring
Thane district have arrested the victim's mother for abetting
the crime and also the occultist, Hasmukh Rathod.

Identity of the family has been withheld by police.

According to police, the husband and wife were under the
influence of the occultist, who told them in July 2000 that
the family would prosper if the father were to have a sexual
relationship with his elder daughter, who was then 12.

The victim told the police that she could not muster the
courage to approach anyone about the incident. But when her
father attempted to rape her younger sister, she approached
her maternal uncle after which a police complaint was filed,
Additional Superintendent of Police Sashikant Mahavarkar told
PTI.

In November 2008, Rathod told the businessman to start
having a sexual relationship with his younger daughter also.

Police arrested the three Wednesday evening. The
occultist was manhandled by local residents when he was being
taken to the police station.

The family, originally from Gujarat, resides in an
apartment on Mira-Bhayander Road.

Both the girls are currently staying with their maternal
uncle and grandmother.