The arrest of a couple in connection with the rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl in Kalyan has revealed the details of the gruesome crime that has triggered a wave of protest in Kolsewadi area of Kalyan (East).
The girl went missing on Monday while playing. The main accused, identified as Vishal Gawli, reportedly confessed to the police that he lured the girl to his home before raping and murdering her. His wife Sakshi Gawli was not at home then. He raped the girl and killed her. When his wife returned home, he told his wife about the crime. Though "she was stunned", she helped him come up with plans to dispose of the body.
Both took an autorickshaw around 8.30 pm and dumped the girl's body near a cemetery. They returned home and cleaned all the blood stains.
Vishal was also seen buying a bottle of liquor at Aadharwadi Chowk in Kalyan. Though Vishal fled from Kalyan the next day, Sakshi remained there. Vishal went to Shegaon in Buldana district, from where his wife hails. He was planning to stay with his relatives when the police arrested him. Gawli was reportedly trying to alter his appearance to evade police action. He was stepping out of the barbershop after shaving off his beard when the police zeroed in on him.
Meanwhile, a Thane court remanded the couple in police custody for a week. Vishal, who was brought to Kalyan from Buldana kept at the Naupada police station. He was later produced before the Kalyan District and Sessions Court where Judge V A Patrawale remanded him in police custody till January 2.
Besides Sakshi Gawli, another person was also arrested in connection with the crime. A police official earlier said they were waiting for the postmortem report and if rape is confirmed, other legal sections will be added to the case.
While Vishal Gawli had some criminal cases, including property-related offences, registered against him, his wife had none. Sakshi wor