Authorities in Maharashtra’s Thane district have arrested a 29-year-old man accused of repeatedly raping a 17-year-old girl and forcing her to undergo an abortion using falsified documents. A doctor who allegedly supplied abortion pills has also been detained, police confirmed on Sunday.

The case unfolded in Ulhasnagar township, where the victim and the accused were neighbors. According to Senior Inspector Shankar Avtade of Ulhasnagar Central Police Station, the assaults began in July 2024 when the man lured the minor to his home under the pretense of dinner while his family was away. He allegedly raped her multiple times and threatened her life if she spoke out.

When the girl discovered she was pregnant and informed the accused, he obtained abortion pills from a private practitioner. The attempt failed, and last month, with the victim seven months pregnant, the accused’s wife, mother, and mother-in-law allegedly conspired to force her into a medical abortion. While the victim’s parents were away, she was taken to a hospital with fake identification and age details provided by the accused. The procedure was carried out at a civic hospital in Kalyan, after which the accused’s wife and mother buried the fetus at an Ulhasnagar crematorium.

The crime surfaced on February 23 when the victim confided in her mother, who had just returned from her village. The family filed a complaint, leading to the man’s arrest on February 25. On Saturday night, police apprehended the doctor involved in the initial abortion attempt. The fetus has since been exhumed for investigation.

Four other suspects—all women linked to the accused—remain at large. The case is registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for rape, forced abortion, and evidence tampering, alongside provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.