DYSP of Maharashtra Arrested for Allegedly Molesting Minor Girl in Mumbai’s Garden

A serious incident has come to light in the country's financial capital, which has shaken and shamed the credibility of the police department, due to which the police uniform has once again been tarnished.

A Deputy Superintendent of Police (DYSP)-level officer has been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting and molesting a 9-year-old girl in a public park in Mumbai's Worli area. 

The accused, Jitendra Dadarao Navneet (56), was taken into custody by Worli police in the early hours of April 24.

Worli police have registered a case against the accused officer under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and are investigating further.

The court subsequently remanded him in judicial custody. 

According to the FIR filed with the Worli police, the incident occurred around 7 pm on April 23rd. The victim had gone to play in the Garden at Worli. It is alleged that the accused arrived there and engaged in indecent behavior in front of the girl, asking her to touch his private parts.

The girl was terrified by this sudden incident and, upon returning home, told her mother what had happened. The girl's mother, who works as a domestic worker, immediately contacted the police. 

Upon receiving the complaint, a Worli police team arrived at the scene and began investigating the case. Based on preliminary inquiries and available facts, the accused police officer was identified and arrested within hours.

During the investigation, the case took a new turn when another minor boy came forward to the police and alleged that the accused had committed similar inappropriate acts against him about a week earlier. 

Police have included this claim in the scope of the investigation and a separate investigation has been initiated to verify it. 

Worli police have registered a case against the accused under sections 74 and 79 of the Indian Penal Code, as well as section 12 of the POCSO Act. These sections relate to crimes related to sexual assault and sexual harassment of minors.

A senior police officer stated that the allegations are extremely serious, so prompt action has been taken and arrests have been made, and the investigation is proceeding according to the full legal process. 

However, a major challenge facing the police is that there are no CCTV cameras in the Singh Garden area where the incident occurred. 

Consequently, the police have been unable to obtain direct visual evidence. 

Currently, efforts are being made to strengthen the case based on statements from children, circumstantial evidence, and other documentary evidence.

The police have recorded the statements of both minors as per law. According to sources, they are now awaiting a medical report, which will determine further action and the direction of the investigation.

The accused, Jitendra Navneet, originally from Nagpur, was posted to the office of the Director General of Police in Mumbai in November 2025. 

He was deployed to the Police Communications and IT Department and lived alone at the Worli Police Camp. 

This case raises serious questions about accountability, discipline, and the oversight system for officers in sensitive positions within the police department. Police officials say the matter is being investigated from every angle.