THANE: A 34-year-old man from the district allegedly raped a child after luring her with a chocolate, police said today.
The accused, Vineet Dhawade, a worker in a local factory, lured the three-and-a-half year girl, living in the neighbourhood, to come to his house in Bhayander township of Thane by offering her a chocolate on February 26, assistant police inspector, Kashimira police station, G B Borade said.
The accused then took the child inside his house where no one else was present and allegedly raped her, he said.
The child was initially not able to give concrete information about the offence, but later her parents took her into confidence following which she informed them about the rape, he said.
Subsequently, the parents yesterday lodged a complaint, based on which the accused was arrested last evening, he said.
The accused has been charged under IPC section 376 and also sections 4, 8 and 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, police said.