According to police, the accused worked as a caretaker-cum-watchman at a bungalow-cum-film production house in Vyaswadi in Madh in Malad (west). The woman, who is an animal lover, lives in another bungalow in the neighbourhood.

According to police sources, on Monday afternoon, he told the woman, who has dozens of cats at her place, that three of her cats had come to his bungalow-cum-production house and requested her to take the cats.

Police said when the woman went to the bungalow to take her cats, the watchman grabbed her and demanded physical favours.

When the woman resisted, he threatened to kill her and took her to a room inside the bungalow. The accused tried to force himself upon the woman. When she resisted, he allegedly attacked her with a knife, the police said.

The woman sustained injuries on her neck and stomach. The accused locked the woman in the room of the production house and fled, said a police officer.

The woman contacted his friend who was nearby. He rushed to her help and took her to Kokilaben hospital. A police team reached the hospital and recorded her statement. She was discharged from the hospital two days later, the police said.

“The accused was arrested on Tuesday from Bihar and brought to Mumbai on Wednesday. He was produced before the court on the same day and remanded to police custody up to July 22,” said senior inspector Adhav.

The accused has been charged under Section 62 (attempt to commit an offence), 64 (rape), 74 (molestation), 75 (sexual harassment), 109 (attempt to murder), 118 (1) (causing hurt or grievous hurt by dangerous weapon), 127(2) (wrongful confinement) of the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS).