Charges framed against accused in minor girl rape case

Accused include a former AIADMK functionary and a Bangladesh national

The Mahila Court here on Thursday framed charges against eight persons, including a Bangladesh national, in connection with the rape of a minor girl hailing from Andhra Pradesh few months ago.

The accused against whom the Cantonment All Women Police here had already filed a charge sheet in October are K. Karthika Devi alias Asha, Siva alias M. Sakthivel, Prabhu, Mohamed Sabikul Islam, Kavitha, Pon. Kamaraj, Dharma alias Dharmar and Arulmozhi alias Kavya.

The accused have been charged under various IPC sections including 365 (kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine person), 366 A (procreation of minor girl) and 376 (rape) besides Sections 4 and 17 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 read with Sections 5 and 6 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act.

While framing charges against the accused, the court has set December 30 as the date for fixing the trial date.

All the eight accused were present before the court when the charges were framed against them.

The girl, a native of Mehboob Nagar, came to Salem in May end and stayed with Asha who assured the girl that she would get her a job.

The girl was allegedly sold for Rs. 30,000 to Sakthivel, said to be involved in flesh trade, after he paid the amount to Asha at Salem.

The girl was then sent in a car from Salem and was allegedly raped by Pon Kamaraj in the vehicle and in his farmhouse at Senappanallur in Thuraiyur taluk in the district.

Sakthivel is also alleged to have raped the minor on the way to Tiruchi.

The girl escaped from confinement in a rented house at Karumandapam here under the pretext of taking bath and was subsequently rescued by the police.

Pon. Kamaraj, who was the then AIADMK’s Thuraiyur union chairman, was stripped of his post and expelled from the primary membership of the party days after his arrest. The Bangladeshi national Mohamed Sabikul is alleged to have had links with Sakthivel.

Cash, mobiles seized

Investigators had seized cash, cell phones and some SIM cards from the accused at the time of their arrest.