The accused, Anil Shinde, was arrested and produced before a court. (Representational image)A man allegedly posing as a eunuch and dressed in women’s clothes entered a Powai woman’s home on the pretext of performing a ritual to bless her with a child, sexually assaulted her and fled after taking Rs 2,000, police said. The accused, identified as Anil Shinde (30), was arrested from Kalwa later the same night after police traced the autorickshaw he had taken from the building.According to police, the woman lives in Powai with her husband and an elderly relative. The couple have been married for four to five years and don’t have children.On Wednesday afternoon, Shinde allegedly arrived at the flat dressed as a woman and claimed to be a eunuch. The elderly relative opened the door while the woman’s husband was at work.Police said Shinde placed his hand on the elderly woman’s head and pretended to bless her. During the interaction, she told him that a young woman in the family had been married for several years but had not conceived. Shinde allegedly offered to perform a ritual to bless her with a child.He then entered the flat and spoke to the woman for a few minutes before asking her to lie down on the bed. Under the guise of performing the ritual, he initially touched her head and then allegedly touched her inappropriately before sexually assaulting her, police said.The woman did not immediately realise that she had been sexually assaulted, police said. Before leaving, Shinde allegedly told her that she would soon be blessed with a child and demanded money. She gave him Rs 2,000, following which he left.About an hour later, the woman realised what had happened and informed her husband, who was at work. The couple approached Powai police station later in the evening, following which police registered a rape case.Story continues below this adInvestigators examined CCTV footage from the building and surrounding areas and spotted the accused boarding an autorickshaw. Police traced the vehicle using its registration number and questioned the driver, who told them where he had dropped the passenger.Using technical evidence and information gathered during the investigation, police traced Shinde to Kalwa in Thane and detained him later on Wednesday night. During questioning, police established that he was a man and not a eunuch, as he had allegedly claimed.Shinde was arrested and produced before a court on Thursday. He was remanded in police custody until Monday.Police are investigating whether the accused had used a similar modus operandi in other cases.Manish Kumar Pathak is a dedicated journalist reporting for The Indian Express from Mumbai. His work demonstrates substantial Expertise and Authority across the complex field of crime reporting, with a strong focus on law enforcement actions, fraud, and cyber security challenges facing the metropolitan region. Expertise & Authority Affiliation: Reports for the nationally recognized daily, The Indian Express, providing his content with high Trustworthiness. Geographical Focus: Provides comprehensive, ground-level coverage of breaking news and investigative matters across Mumbai and the surrounding regions (e.g., Thane, Vasai). Core Authority: His reporting portfolio highlights deep Expertise in crucial beats, including: Cyber & Financial Crime: Extensive coverage of sophisticated scams, including cases involving high-value cyber fraud, stock market manipulation scams, and fraudsters using government figures to gain trust. Law Enforcement & Investigation: Reports directly on major police actions, including arrests made by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) in fraud cases (e.g., MHADA flat scams) and detailed coverage of murder and kidnapping investigations. Major Incidents & Public Safety: Covers significant incidents like building collapses, road accidents, and public safety issues such as theft at large public events. Defence & Maritime: Also covers key updates regarding the Indian Navy, including the commissioning of new vessels and strategic defense announcements. Manish Kumar Pathak's consistent focus on crime, fraud, and the workings of the Mumbai police system establishes him as a trusted and authoritative source for critical news in Western India. ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram