Accused had planned crime,say police

The four men were produced before a magistrate at Bandra Court Saturday afternoon and remanded in police custody. The 16-year-old girl who had brought the victim with her,was sent to the Dongri remand home. The men have been charged under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.

According to the police,the victim had been invited by the minor accused to the home of her friend Melvin D’Souza (22) who was celebrating his birthday.

Melvin,who works as an usher at a multiplex,lives in a ground-plus-one home Datta Mandir Road in Vakola. Melvin’s friends Sachin Yadav (22),Bipin Singh (22) and Venkatesh Naidu (20) were also present when the girl brought the victim”.

“The wine shop owner told us that Bipin purchased the beer. It is not clear who purchased the condoms. The accused have not disclosed where they disposed of them,” said an officer.

“The minor accused is a friend of the victim and lives in the same neighbourhood. At 5 pm,when the minor accused was heading to Melvin’s house,she spotted the victim and invited her to the birthday party. The victim had no idea that the accused would be consuming alcohol,” said sub-inspector Santosh Rasam.

While Sachin is pursuing BTech at Thakur Engineering College in Kandivali East,Venkatesh is a commerce student at a private university. Bipin works at his father’s cowshed in Vakola.

“The victim did not remember much about the location of the house. We knocked on each door on the street but when we reached Melvin’s house,we spotted three bottles of beer. This raised our suspicion,” said the officer. “Melvin said his uncles had consumed the liquor. We asked him to accompany us to the police station. On the way,he confessed to the crime. He then led us to the other accused,” he added.

The men underwent a medical test at Nagpada Police Hospital on Friday.

The family of Venkatesh said he was home till 8 pm on Thursday. “He was playing cricket near our home. At 8 pm,he got a call from Melvin inviting him to the party. Venkatesh did go but returned at 9 pm. He has been dragged into this by the other accused,” said his mother Elizabeth.