A man allegedly raped a 6-year-old girl, a friend of his daughters', at his house in Hamali Basti in Hyderabad, police said on Friday.
According to police, the accused was in an inebriated state when the alleged crime took place.
The accused identified as Srinivas, a labourer, allegedly raped the minor girl around midnight. He has been arrested, police said.
"The victim used to go to sleep at the house of the accused as his daughters were her friends. Last night also, she had gone to their place to sleep. However, the accused and his wife had an argument after he came home drunk. In a huff, his wife left home along with her daughters, even as the victim continued to sleep there," police said.
The victim's father lodged a complaint with police after the girl suffered health problems, Malakpet Police Station Inspector A Ganga Reddy said.
Following the complaint, a case of rape under relevant sections of IPC and other provisions of Protection of Children from Sexual offences (POCSO) Act was booked against the accused, the Inspector said.
Further investigation is on, he added.