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Mumbai, May 1: A police officer holding the rank of Assistant Commissioner has been taken into custody by the Mumbai Police for allegedly molesting a young girl. The Worli Police have initiated a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act in response to this alarming incident.

As per reports from the Mumbai Police, the officer was arrested for engaging in obscene behavior and molesting a 9-year-old girl in a public garden located in Worli. Following his arrest, he was presented before a local court, which ordered him to be held in judicial custody.

Officials from the Worli Police Station stated that the incident occurred while the girl was playing in the garden. It is alleged that the officer approached her, performed inappropriate acts in front of her, and forced her to touch him inappropriately. Traumatized, the girl returned home and informed her mother about the incident.

The mother, who works as a domestic helper, promptly reported the matter to the authorities. A police team was dispatched to investigate the scene. After initial questioning and identifying the suspect, the officer was apprehended within hours of the complaint.

The investigation has expanded after another young boy came forward, claiming that the same officer had behaved inappropriately towards him about a week earlier. Authorities are now including this new testimony in their investigation and are conducting a separate inquiry to validate these additional allegations.

The officer has been charged under Sections 74 and 79 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 12 of the POCSO Act. A senior police official highlighted the seriousness of the charges, assuring that prompt action has been taken to ensure a thorough legal process. However, investigators are facing challenges due to the lack of CCTV footage at Singh Garden, which means the case relies heavily on witness accounts and forensic evidence.

Originally from Nagpur, the officer had been assigned to the Director General of Police (DGP) office in Mumbai since November 2025. He was living alone at the Worli Police Camp at the time of the incident.

This arrest has raised significant concerns about accountability and oversight for officers in sensitive roles. Mumbai Police officials have committed to investigating the matter thoroughly to ensure justice is achieved.