Businessman held for raping daughter over nine years

Mumbai, Mar 19 (PTI) In a horrific incident, a
businessman allegedly raped his daughter over a period of nine
years after a 'tantrik' reportedly told him the sexual act
would bring him prosperity and has been arrested along with
his wife in neighbouring Thane district of the western Indian
state of Maharshtra.

The tantrik, who was known to the 60-year-old
businessman's family for two decades and also allegedly raped
the hapless victim a few times, was also arrested on Wednesday
by the Mira Road police in Thane.

The traumatised girl, now 21, had been silent about her
ordeal but mustered courage to approach the police after her
father attempted to rape her 15-year-old younger sister, again
on the advice of the tantrik.

The shocking case was reminiscent of the infamous
incident of Austrian incest father Josef Fritzl that has
grabbed world headlines.

The mother was arrested by for abetting the crime, the
police said. The identity of the family has been withheld.

According to police, the couple was under the influence
of the tantrik identified as Hasmukh Rathod, 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 decided to break her
silence when her father attempted to rape her younger sister
and 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.

The tantrik 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.

In the Austrian incident, Joseph Fritzl had allegedly
imprisoned and raped his daughter in his home for 24 years.