Bhigwan POCSO case: Man, 67, arrested for raping disabled minor niece
Synopsis
A 67-year-old man has been arrested in Bhigwan, Pune, for allegedly raping his 14-year-old specially-abled niece — exploiting her mental condition to commit the assault at his own home. The case, registered under POCSO and the BNS, is part of a disturbing pattern: a near-identical crime against a deaf and mute minor was recently reported from Bulandshahr, UP, where the victim was found to be four months pregnant.
Key Takeaways
Shivaji Chandrakant Danane , 67 , was arrested in Bhigwan, Indapur Taluka, Pune for allegedly raping his 14-year-old specially-abled niece.
The accused is the victim's paternal uncle and allegedly exploited her mental condition at his home in Bhadalwadi village .
The case was registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and POCSO Act, 2012 following a complaint by the victim's mother, Mangal Tupe .
A similar case was reported from Khurja, Bulandshahr , UP, where a 40-year-old man allegedly raped a 14-year-old deaf and mute girl who was found four months pregnant .
Both cases highlight a pattern of sexual violence targeting differently-abled minors in rural India.
A 67-year-old man has been arrested in Bhigwan, Indapur Taluka, approximately 135 km from Pune, for allegedly raping his 14-year-old specially-abled niece — a case registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012. The complaint was filed by the victim's mother at Bhigwan Police Station, bringing the alleged crime to light.
What the Police Found
The accused, identified as Shivaji Chandrakant Danane, allegedly exploited the victim's mental condition to sexually assault her at his residence in Bhadalwadi village. According to police, Danane is the girl's paternal uncle and reportedly took deliberate advantage of her vulnerability.
The victim's mother, Mangal Tupe, approached the police after learning of the alleged assault. Investigators registered the case under multiple sections of the BNS and POCSO, and Danane was subsequently arrested. Further investigation is ongoing.
A Pattern of Crimes Against Disabled Minors
Authorities and child-rights advocates note that this is not an isolated incident. A comparable case was recently reported from Khurja, Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh, where a 40-year-old man was arrested for allegedly raping a 14-year-old girl who is deaf and mute.
Superintendent of Police Bajrang Bali Chaurasia told reporters that the Bulandshahr case came to light when the girl's mother took her to a hospital, where doctors found the child to be four months pregnant. The accused, from the same village as the victim, was arrested following the mother's complaint.
Why This Matters
Children with disabilities are among the most vulnerable to sexual exploitation, often targeted precisely because of their limited ability to communicate abuse. POCSO provides for stringent punishment in such cases, and courts have historically treated the exploitation of a child's disability as an aggravating factor during sentencing.
This comes amid broader concerns in Maharashtra about crimes against specially-abled individuals in rural belts, where social stigma and limited access to legal aid can delay or deter reporting. The fact that both the Bhigwan and Bulandshahr cases were brought forward by mothers underscores how dependent disabled children remain on caregivers to seek justice.
What Happens Next
The Bhigwan case remains under active investigation. Given the charges under POCSO — which mandates a Special Court trial and a time-bound process — the case is expected to be transferred to a designated POCSO court in Pune. Child welfare authorities are also likely to be involved in the victim's rehabilitation and support.
Point of View
Precisely because their ability to report abuse is limited. POCSO's framework is robust on paper, but rural awareness of the law — and access to Special Courts — remains uneven. The fact that both cases were surfaced by mothers, not by any institutional safeguard, raises serious questions about whether India's child protection infrastructure is reaching the most vulnerable. Conviction rates under POCSO have improved, but the pipeline from complaint to Special Court remains slow, and rehabilitation support for disabled survivors is largely absent from the policy conversation.
NationPress
31 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Bhigwan POCSO case?
A 67-year-old man, identified as Shivaji Chandrakant Danane, was arrested in Bhigwan, Indapur Taluka, Pune, for allegedly raping his 14-year-old specially-abled niece. The accused reportedly exploited the girl's mental condition and committed the assault at his home in Bhadalwadi village.
Under which laws has the accused been charged?
The case has been registered under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012. POCSO mandates trial in a designated Special Court and prescribes stringent punishment for sexual offences against minors.
How did the Bhigwan case come to light?
The victim's mother, Mangal Tupe, approached Bhigwan Police Station and filed a formal complaint after learning of the alleged assault. Police subsequently registered the case and arrested the accused.
Is this an isolated incident?
No. A similar case was recently reported from Khurja, Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh, where a 40-year-old man was arrested for allegedly raping a 14-year-old deaf and mute girl. Doctors found the victim to be four months pregnant, according to Superintendent of Police Bajrang Bali Chaurasia.
What will happen next in the Bhigwan case?
The case is under active investigation and is expected to be transferred to a designated POCSO Special Court in Pune. Child welfare authorities are likely to be involved in supporting the victim's rehabilitation.
