Mumbai Police's Extensive Investigation Leads to Arrest
In a significant breakthrough, Mumbai police successfully apprehended a 27-year-old man accused of molesting a woman in Goregaon, following an extensive investigation that involved scanning nearly 70 CCTV cameras across the area. The arrest came three days after the incident and the victim's subsequent social media post detailing her traumatic experience.
The Incident and Investigation Details
The accused has been identified as Kuldeep Kanojiya, a native of Uttar Pradesh who worked and resided at a plastic factory in Goregaon. According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 11) Sandeep Jadhav, "Our team went through 70-80 cameras from the scene of crime in Goregaon that led us to the factory where the accused worked. He was placed under arrest on Sunday."
The case was initially registered on Friday after the woman filed a formal complaint alleging she was groped on Wednesday night. The police investigation gained momentum following the victim's social media post that went viral, bringing public attention to the case and the alleged failure of emergency response systems.
Victim's Harrowing Experience with Emergency Services
In her social media account, the woman described a deeply distressing situation where she found herself completely abandoned by both emergency services and bystanders. She reported that after the molestation incident, she stood crying in the middle of the road, desperately calling for help.
Neither the general police helpline nor the women's safety helpline responded to her repeated calls, leaving her questioning the reliability of safety measures in Mumbai, a city often regarded as safer than many other Indian cities. The lack of support from people present at the spot further compounded her trauma.
Police Accountability and System Review
A senior IPS officer acknowledged the serious lapse in emergency response and stated that authorities are investigating why the woman's calls went unanswered at both the police control room and the specially designated women's helplines. "Such a thing should not happen, and we will check why the calls were not answered," the officer assured.
The case has highlighted critical gaps in the emergency response system meant to protect women, even as the police demonstrated commendable investigative work through their methodical CCTV examination that ultimately led to the accused's identification and arrest at his workplace.
