Man poses as transgender, sexually assaults woman on pretext of 'nazar' ritual

The accused, identified as Anil Sheshrao Shinde, approached the woman and claimed he could remove the evil eye. After entering the house, he went into the bedroom and assaulted her.

In Short

• Woman in Mumbai sexually assaulted by man posing as transgender
• Accused claimed to remove evil eye to enter victim's home
• Police traced and arrested accused in Thane within four hours

A woman in Mumbai was sexually assaulted by a man posing as a transgender person who entered her home on the pretext of warding off the evil eye, police said. The 28-year-old accused also threatened to harm the woman during the assault.

The incident took place on Tuesday, when the accused, identified as Anil Sheshrao Shinde, approached the woman and claimed he could remove the evil eye.

After entering the house, he went into the bedroom and assaulted her.

The police registered a case based on a complaint by the woman and launched a probe to nab Shinde.

Police examined CCTV footage from the area and found the accused leaving the locality in an autorickshaw.

Investigators then used technical surveillance and human intelligence to trace his movements.

Shinde was eventually traced to a slum area in Thane, and was arrested within around four hours of the complaint.

During the investigation, police also found that Shinde, who works as a beggar, was not a transgender person, but dressed as one to seek alms.

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