The Faraskhana police have booked four suspects in connection with the case under sections 363 (kidnapping), 376 (rape), 372 (selling minor for purpose of prostitution), 373 (buying minor for purpose of prostitution) and 366 (A) (procreation of minor girl) of the Indian Penal Code. The suspects have been identified as Kundan Gupta, Neha and Sunita (full names not known), and the owner of the building where the brothel was functioning.

Investigations revealed that the suspect Gupta had allegedly raped the girl at Palghar in Thane district before selling her to the brothel owner in Budhwar Peth.

Senior inspector Venkat Gangalwad told TOI that the victim hails from Maharajganj district in UP. "On August 1, she was on her way to her aunt's house in a neighbouring village in a six-seater rickshaw. Gupta and Neha, who were in the same rickshaw, gave her chocolate spiked with sedatives. The girl became unconscious after eating the chocolate."

Gangalwad said that, when the girl gained consciousness, she found herself at Palghar. "Gupta assaulted her with a leather belt and raped her at knife point for more than two days. Later, he brought her to Pune and sold her to brothel owner Sunita. The brother owner forced her into prostitution for about five days. However, when the victim started resisting, Sunita contacted Gupta and asked him to take her back."

Gupta again took the girl to Palghar, beat her up and repeatedly raped her, Gangalwad said. "On August 16, Gupta brought her back to Pune by bus. When they got down at Swargate ST bus stand the girl managed to escape from the clutches of Gupta."

The girl then requested a passer-by to take her to the police and the person took her to Swargate police station, Gangalwad said. "The Swargate police hand over the victim to us. We have admitted her in a hospital for treatment. We will soon arrest the suspects," he added.

Two minor girls rescued: Meanwhile, in an another incident, the officials from the social security cell of the crime branch on Tuesday rescued two minor girls hailing from West Bangal, who were forced into prostitution. Acting on a tip-off a police team led by inspector Shivaji Deokar raided the brothel and rescued the girls. The police have arrested the brothel owner, identified as Pushpa Saila Lama (45) of Budhwar Peth. Source