Rajkot: Father arrested for repeatedly raping minor daughter over four years

A 19-year-old girl has accused her father of subjecting her to repeated sexual assault over several years at their family home in Rajkot district, police said on Saturday. 

According to investigators, the alleged abuse began when the survivor was still a minor, shortly after her mother was diagnosed with cancer and became bedridden. Officials believe the crime continued for nearly four years, largely hidden from other family members.

The case surfaced after the young woman went missing from her residence in Upleta. Her father approached the local police station to file a missing person complaint, prompting teams from Upleta police and the Rajkot Rural Local Crime Branch to launch a search.

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The woman was traced soon after and brought in for questioning. During interrogation, she made grave allegations against her father, shifting the focus of the investigation from a missing person case to a serious sexual assault probe.

According to police, the survivor told investigators that the assaults usually took place at night and that she was threatened into silence. She alleged that the accused would play pornographic videos before abusing her and raise the television volume to suppress her cries.

After her statement was recorded, police questioned the father, who allegedly confessed to the crime during interrogation. A case was registered at the Upleta police station under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and the accused was arrested.

Investigators also recovered items from the room where the assaults allegedly occurred, including gel, a safety kit and a mobile phone. These have been sent for forensic examination and will be included in the chargesheet, officials said.

“The victim gave a detailed account of the abuse, and the accused admitted his involvement. Further investigation is underway,” a police officer said.