Surat: A two-year-old accidental death investigation has led to the arrest of the 13-year-old girl’s stepfather, after forensic evidence indicated sexual assault and a DNA match linked him to the crime, police said.The girl died on June 8, 2024, ostensibly after developing breathing difficulties and vomiting at her residence. An unnatural death case was registered and a postmortem was conducted at New Civil Hospital.The investigation remained open until police received the final cause-of-death report on July 7, 2026. While the report attributed the death to a lung-related illness, forensic examination found signs of forced sexual penetration and physical injuries, prompting police to reopen the matter as a rape and child sexual abuse case. The FSL also found the presence of semen on the victim’s body.Police registered an offence under the IPC and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act on Aug 23, 2026. The complaint was initially filed against an unidentified person.Deputy commissioner of police (Zone 4) Nidhi Thakur told TOI, “During the investigation, officers revisited the case and traced locations where the girl and her family had lived after 2024. Police also contacted people associated with places where the girl had studied and worked and recorded their statements. The investigation revealed that the girl’s stepfather frequently assaulted her. Based on the information gathered, police began monitoring him and got his DNA.”A DNA report received from the Surat Forensic Science Laboratory on Tuesday reportedly established a complete match between DNA obtained from semen traces found on the minor and the DNA profile of her stepfather.“After the forensic confirmation, Athwalines police arrested him and initiated legal proceedings,” Thakur said.Police said the case was cracked through forensic evidence, witness statements and a review of the earlier accidental death investigation. The accused has been booked for rape under the IPC and aggravated penetrative sexual assault under the Pocso Act.Officials said the investigation gathered momentum after delayed forensic findings provided fresh evidence in the case.
