MUMBAI: A 17-year-old girl in Bandra (E) was allegedly sexually abused by her father and brother.

The Nirmal Nagar police arrested both accused last week and booked them under sections 377 (unnatural sex), 354 (assault or criminal force against woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 323 (causing hurt) of the Indian Penal Code and under sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act , 2012.

The accused have been remanded in police custody. According to the victim, the two would rape her when her stepmother was not at home.

"Initially, the victim was staying with her uncle after her mother left her. Her father remarried and was living in Bandra with his son from the first wife," said a police officer. "The uncle sent the victim to her father's house when she was 12 years old against her wishes. The victim claim her father started sexually abusing her five years ago when she started staying with him," he added. The victim told the police that she wanted to go back to her uncle's house and marry her uncle's son but her father didn't approve of the match.

The victim's brother also sexually abused her and assaulted her when she resisted, the police said. Her brother's harassment forced the victim to approach the police last week.

The accused claimed they are being framed since they opposed the victim's relationship with her cousin. The victim wanted to stay with her uncle's son and she had made false allegation against them so that they can accept her demand.

"The accused are trying to hide their crime. We are enquiring with neighbours about their conduct and other details," said a senior police officer. "We will speak to the victim's uncle and cousin and recorded their statement in the case. Our investigation is under way," he added.

