66-year-old caretaker held for assault on minor girl in Sangareddy temple

RC Puram police in Sangareddy arrested a 66-year-old caretaker of a place of worship for allegedly sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl inside the temple premises on the night of 13 August. Lokals caught the accused, identified as Vadla Sayanna by Telangana Today, red-handed with the minor and forced open the door while recording the incident on their mobile phones.

Times of India reports that the police registered a case under the Pocso Act and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Sections 296 (obscene acts) and 299 (outraging religious feelings). A video of the incident went viral on social media. The accused was arrested on 15 August and produced before a magistrate, who sent him to judicial custody.

Police investigations revealed that the accused knew the girl's father through some work at his house. The accused allegedly lured the girl to the temple on the pretext of buying her a mobile phone and then assaulted her, according to RC Puram Inspector Lalu Naik. The court has remanded the accused.