Priest Arrested for Assaulting Minor in Thane

A priest has been arrested in Dombivali within Thane district for the alleged sexual assault of a five-year-old girl, as reported by the police on Thursday.

The accused, Harish Bhave, is known to perform rituals at people's homes and is familiar with the victim's family. The alleged assault occurred when the girl's parents were at work, giving Bhave the opportunity to enter their home and commit the act.

After the child informed her parents about the incident, they immediately approached the police to lodge a complaint. Authorities have booked Bhave under the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, confirmed an official from Tilaknagar police station.