Taking over the investigation in a rape case, the Crime Branch CID police have arrested two persons, including a watchman of the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation (TNCSC), on charges of raping a minor girl.
Acting swiftly after taking over the investigation from the district all women police, the CB-CID arrested on Thursday Ramanathan (57), a watchman working at the TNCSC’s modern rice mill at Manamadurai, and S Karthikeyan (32), a salesman.
They figured in a list of accused identified by the girl in her statement before a magistrate under section 164 Cr PC, sources said. They were produced before the Mahila court here and remanded in judicial custody.
With this, the police have arrested eight accused, including a Sub-Inspector of Police, a conductor of the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation and a local DMK functionary under the provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.
The district police had already arrested the father and brother of the victim in June after the abuse of the girl came to light.
Meanwhile, the CB-CID police filed a petition before the Mahila court, seeking police custody of the Sub-Inspector of Police and the conductor for interrogation.
Mahila court judge Jeyaraj directed the authorities to produce the two before the court, and posted the case for hearing on Friday.
The CB-CID had appointed Pudukottai CB-CID Inspector of Police Jenova as investigating officer in the case. She is being assisted by Inspector of police Radhika, sources said.
