Police arrest man, allegedly impersonating as a transgender person, for sexually assaulting woman
A 28-year-old man was arrested in Powai for allegedly impersonating a transgender person to gain access to a home and sexually assault a woman. The accused used the guise of performing rituals to ward off evil spirits before committing the crime.
Why it matters
This incident highlights concerns regarding public safety and the potential for criminal exploitation of vulnerable individuals through deceptive impersonation.
A 28-year-old man was arrested on August 19, 2026, for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman in Powai by posing as a transperson and entering her paying guest (PG) house on the pretext of warding off the evil eye.
According to the police, the accused, Anil Sheshrao Shinde, would allegedly dress in a sari in his spare time and approach people posing as a transgender person. He would claim to know special rituals that could solve people's problems or fulfil their wishes.
A case was registered at the Powai Police Station on August 18, 2026, under Sections 64(1) and 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The police said that this woman, an airhostess, would occasionally stay at this paying guest house. According to the Investigating Officer Ramchandra Pinjarkar, her husband, who worked in Varanasi, had dengue and was admitted in the hospital.
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