City Police on Tuesday arrested Simson (28) of Ammankulam on charges of kidnapping and marrying a minor girl. The police also arrested his relative who had allegedly helped him.
According to the police, the girl (17), who was studying Plus Two, did not return from school on July 2. Her parents also found that Rs. 2.50 lakh in cash and 30 sovereigns of gold jewellery were missing from the house. Following this, they filed a complaint in the Ramanathapuram Police Station.
Upon investigation, the police found that the girl was involved in an affair with Simson.
Following a search operation, the police apprehended Simson and Kutty alias Rajasekar, his relative who had helped him kidnap the girl, in the city on Tuesday, and rescued the girl.
Upon questioning, the police said that the girl had told them that she was taken to Velankanni where Simson married her. After that, they had taken her to Kodaikanal and the Nilgiris.
The case has been transferred to the All Women Police Station (East). Section 366 (a)(procuration of minor girl) of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 3 and 4 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 have been invoked.
Simson and Kutty have been remanded in custody. Further investigations are on regarding the case.