Pune Doctor arrested for allegedly raping minor at clinic

Pune: A doctor has been arrested for allegedly raping a minor in 2019 at his clinic in Kothrud in the name of providing treatment.

The Pune city police arrested a doctor on Thursday as he was reported to have raped a minor in 2019.

The arrest took place after the girl, who is now 19 years old filed an FIR at the Kothrud police station on Wednesday in relation to the case, reports the Indian Express. 

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The FIR states that the 45-year-old accused, Dr Yogesh Lakshman Walhe runs a clinic at Paud road in the Kothrud region, and the family of the complainant knew the doctor for several years. The complainant had gone to the doctor's clinic for consultation in November 2019 when she was a minor. She had gone there for the treatment of spinal disease. 

The doctor is reported to have raped and clicked nude photographs of the minor. The accused reportedly threatened to post her photos on social media if she told anyone about the incident, and raped her multiple times which continued till December 2020. She told her family about the incident recently, said the police. 

The doctor knew she was a minor and continued to harass her in the name of treatment, reports the Hindustan Times. The survivor is currently a student of BSc Computer and she used to refer to the doctor as 'kaka' (uncle) as he was a friend of the family. 

The doctor used to visit the girl's house and touch her inappropriately when her mother used to be away at the office. In March 2020, when the pandemic-induced lockdown took place, the doctor stopped visiting her but continued to send her obscene photographs on Whatsapp. In 2020, the survivor fell while cleaning and got injuries on her back, because of which she was taken to the doctor's clinic for acupuncture therapy where the doctor continued to harass, click pictures and threaten her, reports Pune Mirror.

The survivor told her mother about the incident in May 2022 when the girl's mother was planning a trip along with her friends. The girl refused to come if the doctor was coming, and when the mother asked the reason, the girl told her about the harassment. 

Assistant police inspector, Aarti Khetmalis said, "We have arrested the doctor immediately after the FIR was lodged. The allegations of the girl are serious and an investigation is underway. The doctor had proposed to the victim's mother to marry him, but she refused as he was already married and his marital dispute was pending." 

The doctor has been booked under relevant Sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, reports the Indian Express. The police are investigating the case further. 

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