A local BJP leader and president of ward number 33 in Malwani was arrested by the Malwani Police for allegedly molesting a 19-year-old girl.

The 37-year-old accused had allegedly touched the 19-year-old girl inappropriately, claims a Mid-day report.

It has now come to light that the accused was summoned to the police station on Sunday for investigation. When he came to know that a complaint was registered, he called up some big-wigs in the party.

Malwani police officials told IndiaScoops.com that party leaders tried to pressurize them not to register the complaint and a leader even threatened the officer saying ‘tula bagun gheu‘.

Local BJP leaders from Malwani tried to force the ‘victim’ to ‘settle’ the matter and even offered Rs 3000 by way of ‘settlement’. But the police were adamant and said under the law they had to register an FIR in cases of crimes against women.

According to Mid-Day, the 37-year-old accused has been identified as Umesh Pande and was friends with the girl’s father. He had promised to help the 19-year-old girl to get a job.

Police officials had said that the girl’s father used to sometimes send water and tea whenever Pande had guests. When the girl’s father had gone out of town, instead of her father, she used to take tea and water to the accused’s office.

The alleged molestation incident took place on Saturday around 6.30 pm. The accused called the 19-year-old girl to his office on the pretext of the job, and that is when he allegedly touched her inappropriately.

After this, the girl slapped him and called for help, and the residents living nearby gathered and called the police. The girl has filed a complaint of molestation under Indian Penal code Section 354.

BJP North Mumbai district president Vinod Shelar told Mid-day, “When the incident came to my notice, I told the police to conduct a fair enquiry. But Pande is an active member and was doing good work in the area for the benefit of people. Due to political rivalry, someone has tried to damage his and the party’s image.”

Shelar accused the police of taking sides, but denied anyone tried to influence the police.

In the meanwhile, Umesh Pande was produced before the court on Sunday and remanded in judicial custody. He was subsequently granted bail, but ordered not to tamper with any evidence or approach the victim.