A security guard has been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting an eight-year-old girl inside a restroom in Pydhonie, south Mumbai. The child sustained serious injuries and was admitted to hospital for treatment.
News of the incident sparked anger among local residents, and hundreds gathered outside the Pydhonie police station demanding strict punishment. Protesters briefly blocked the road, disrupting traffic, before police dispersed the crowd and restored normal movement. Authorities increased security around the station to prevent further unrest.
Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar visited the police station and was confronted by some demonstrators who shouted for stern action. Opposition MLA Rohit Pawar described the assault as “outrageous and extremely serious,” and called for faster trials and implementation of the Shakti Act to strengthen deterrence.
Pawar linked the case to recent high-profile crimes, including the Nasrapur rape-and-murder case, and urged swift justice while wishing the girl a speedy recovery.
नसरापूर घटनेतील आरोपीला फाशीची शिक्षा सुनावल्याची घटना ताजी असतानाही मुंबईत पायधुनी परिसरात एका अवघ्या ७ वर्षाच्या चिमुरडीवर वॉचमनने अत्याचार केल्याची संतापजनक आणि गंभीर घटना घडली. सरसकट सर्वच खटल्यात नसरापूरप्रमाणे तातडीने न्याय मिळत नाही म्हणून आरोपींना कायद्याचा धाक राहिला…
— Rohit Pawar (@RRPSpeaks) July 12, 2026
Police say the accused was arrested soon after a complaint was filed and the investigation is ongoing.
In the Nasrapur case, a 65-year-old man was convicted and handed a triple death sentence within 60 days of the crime, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had said last month. In the latest case, the accused security guard has been arrested, the girl remains under treatment, and police have stepped up deployment in the area after protests.