Surat: A case underscoring the vulnerability of child victims of sexual abuse navigating the justice system has emerged where a lawyer allegedly exploited a family’s financial distress to rape a 13-year-old girl whose earlier rape case he had been helping pursue in court.Police arrested Pranayraj Ranvir, 43, a practising lawyer and resident of Dindoli on Tuesday for allegedly raping the girl. Ranvir is from a village in Dholka taluka of Ahmedabad district.According to the complaint, the girl’s parents, who work as labourers, had approached Ranvir for legal help with their daughter’s rape case.“Ranvir had demanded Rs 15,000 as fees. As the family said they could not afford the sum, he offered his services in exchange for the girl working as a domestic helper in his house,” a police officer said.Police said when the girl went to his house, Ranvir allegedly stripped her and forced her to perform a sex act. He then allegedly raped her and later threatened her, saying he would damage her ongoing case if she reported the crime.Sachin GIDC police registered a case on Monday and arrested Ranvir. He has been booked for rape, rape of a child under 16, employing a child to commit an offence, causing hurt and criminal intimidation under the BNS and for aggravated penetrative sexual assault and allied offences under the Pocso Act.The girl’s earlier case dates to Sep 2025, when she was allegedly kidnapped. She was later traced on Nov 23, 2025. She was 12 years old at the time. Investigators in that case alleged that two persons had raped her. Both accused were arrested.While a public prosecutor represents the prosecution, police said the girl’s father had engaged Ranvir to assist in proceedings.Police records show that Ranvir has faced criminal cases in the past. He was booked in Bavla, Ahmedabad, in connection with alleged dowry demands and cruelty to his wife. He was also booked in other cases, including prohibition-related offences, rioting and other charges registered at police stations in Ahmedabad and Surat.Police said further investigation is underway, including verification of the sequence of events and collection of relevant evidence.
