The victim of the Sooryanelli rape case was arrested by the Crime Branch of the State police here on Monday on charges of breach of trust and forgery. The girl, who has been given a government job, is working in the Sales Tax Department.
According to the Crime Branch, on three occasions during 2010-11, she had failed to deposit the department's money in bank. The total amount came to Rs.2, 26,006. When the issue came to light through an internal audit, she immediately deposited the money in bank.
The incident occurred when she was working at Changanassery. The police have charged the girl with Sections 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servant), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating) and 471 (using as genuine a forged document) of the Indian Penal Code. She was produced before the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, Changanassery, on Monday evening.
The cases concerning the sexual harassment and assault on the girl are now pending before the Supreme Court. The original case pertaining to the rape of the minor girl for a 40-day period during January-February 1996 had named 42 persons. On September 6, 2000 the special court set up to hear the case had sentenced 35 of them to rigorous imprisonment of various terms. However, the Kerala High Court in its January 20, 2005 verdict acquitted all the 35. The sentence of the key accused who had been absconding during the first phase was reduced.
