Thane, October 7: The Navi Mumbai police in Maharashtra have arrested a 39-year-old man for sexually harassing two teenage girls, an official said on Saturday. Accused Sandeep Sonawane is an autorickshaw driver but was driving a friend's taxi when he allegedly committed the crime around 12.15 pm on Friday, said an official.

When the taxi, operating for an app-based service, was on the road leading to Bonkode area, Sonawane allegedly sexually harassed the girls, aged 14 and 15 years, the official said. Locals rushed to help the girls after hearing their screams and pinned down the accused.  Nigerian Man Held with Cocaine, Mephedrone Worth Rs 84.8 Lakh in Navi Mumbai.

The APMC police have registered a case against Sonawane under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 354 (use of criminal force on a woman with intention to outrage her modesty) and 354A (sexual harassment) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, said Vivek Pansare, deputy commissioner of police, zone-I, Navi Mumbai.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)