Man Arrested in Thane for Alleged Molestation and Extortion of Minor Schoolgirl

A 23-year-old man, Prathamesh Desai, was arrested in Thane for allegedly molesting and extorting Rs 50,000 from a 15-year-old schoolgirl over six months between September 2025 and February 2026. The accused reportedly took the girl to isolated locations, threatened to reveal their purported relationship to her parents, and coerced her into paying money. The victim eventually informed her parents, who filed a police complaint. Desai has been charged under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, with investigations ongoing.