Six of the 17 accused, who were arrested on Tuesday by the Chennai city police for committing a series of sexual offences on a girl, are above 50. The police told the court that the suspects — including a lift operator, security guard and plumber — repeatedly sexually assaulted the child since January in the apartment where she lived.
The parents of the child came to know about the offences only recently, after she complained of stomach ache. They took the child to a private hospital, which referred her to the Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital, for examination on suspicion of sexual assault.
The government hospital informed the police station. The mother of the victim lodged a formal complaint at the All Women Police Station narrating the sexual assault that the child was subjected to.
Sources said that following the complaint, the child was made to identify the accused, who were paraded one by one. She apparently identified the accused.
A magistrate recorded the statement of the child on Monday, in camera. During interrogation, the accused reportedly admitted to having committed the offence.
Ravikumar, 56, of Aynavaram; Suresh, 32, of Kolathur; Rajasekar, 40, of Ayanavaram; Erald Bross, 58, of Perambur; B.J. Sugumaran, 65, of Kathirvedu; Abishek, 23; Murugesu, 54; Paramasivam, 60; Palani, 40; Jayaganesh, 28; Gunasekaran, 55; Babu, 36; Deenadayalan, 50; Jayaraman, 26; Surya, 23; M. Raja, 30, and Umapathy, 42, are the list of suspects who were produced before the court. The offenders were booked under Sections 307 (Attempt to murder), 506(ii)(criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 5 (Punishment for aggravated penetrative sexual assault), 10 (Punishment for aggravated penetrative sexual assault) and 12 (Punishment for Sexual harassment) of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.
In judicial custody
City Public Prosecutor Gowri Ashokan said all the accused were produced before the court.
The judge remanded them in judicial custody until July 31.
