Leader of the Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan has accused the Home Department of having frozen the investigation into the Varapuzha sex racket case and excluded prominent persons figuring in the list of accused from the investigation.
In a statement here on Friday, Mr. Achuthanandan pointed out that the preliminary investigation itself had established that there were around 200 accused in the case. According to the testimony given by the victim before the Aluva court under Section 164, she was sexually abused by more than 200 persons. However, the police had so far arrested only under 50 persons in connection with the case. This despite reports stating that she was taken to various places and abused by many including elected representatives, he said.
Mr. Achuthanandan demanded to know why the police were not prepared to carry out a comprehensive investigation on the basis of the witnesses’ testimonies and news reports. This, he said, was only because of the curbs imposed on them by the government, which was worried that the investigation would go up to persons dear to the ruling alliance. The government had not changed its stance even after a former UDF councillor had complained to the Chief Minister about it and had even threatened to go on fast before the Secretariat.
The government should entrust the investigation in the case to a team led by a high-ranking officer, the Opposition leader said.
