Mumbai: One detained in Spanish woman rape case

The police on Tuesday claimed to have achieved a major breakthrough in its probe relating to robbery and rape of a Spanish national by detaining a prime suspect.

"We have nabbed a habitual robber from an upscale area of the city and are grilling him at present. He has criminal antecedents and is the prime suspect in this case," said a senior police official.

"The suspect is a historysheeter and in all probability has allegedly committed the crime. However, we are still questioning him and shall proceed further against him after gathering evidence," the official said.

During a massive hunt for the lone accused, the police rounded up several suspects since yesterday and grilled them throughout the day following which they claimed to have obtained 'substantial' clues.

The sketch of the suspect, who is believed to be in his late 20s with dark complexion and slim built, was also prepared and circulated among the investigators and informers, a police official said.

Additional Police Commissioner Vishwas Nagre Patil on Monday had said that several people had been rounded up as part of the investigation.

The 27-year-old musician, who was staying as a tenant on leave-and-licence basis in a flat on the third floor of the 'Peridot' building located on Perry Cross Road in Bandra, was allegedly raped and robbed by the knife-wielding accused in the wee hours on Monday.

The intruder barged into the flat through the window and robbed money including Euros and Indian currency and a camera. When the victim woke up, the accused brandished a knife asking her to keep mum.

The victim panicked but managed to run outside and banged at the door of her neighbouring flat. But she received no response as no one was there. The intruder dragged her into the house and allegedly raped her at knife point, the police said.