The Crime Branch CID of the Tamil Nadu police has added Section 376 (Rape) of IPC to the Pollachi sexual abuse case. After examining at least half-a-dozen more victims, investigators slapped rape charges against the five suspects arrested so far. The agency has altered the original FIR in the case to bring in the offence of rape and trafficking.
According to sources in the agency, investigators reached out to other victims based on videos, photographs and other information. They not only revealed that they were raped but identified the accused persons as well.
Rape charge added to Pollachi case; in camera proceedings likely
“We will never reveal the identity of the victims. Based on their statements and other material or digital evidence available on record, prima facie offence of rape has been established. The entire proceedings will be conducted in camera. We are on the lookout for one more person involved in the case,” a CB-CID official told The Hindu on Thursday.
In the original FIR, which was registered by the Pollachi town police on February 24, based on a complaint lodged by a college girl, four suspects K. Thirunavukkarasu, 27; N. Sabarirajan alias Rishwanth, 25; N. Sathish, 29; and T. Vasanthakumar, 24, were accused of sexual harassment, robbery, violation of privacy etc.
The CB-CID which examined a few others in the case later arrested Mani alias Manivannan, 30.
Besides the statement of the victims and photographs/videos seized from the mobile phones of the suspects, the CB-CID is also relying on information shared by administrators of social media platforms, including Facebook and WhatsApp.
Even as the State government issued a fresh order transferring the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation, the official said that investigation by the CB-CID was nearing completion.
Pointing out that the investigation was limited to the victims who were identified and examined so far, the official said that additional chargesheets would be laid by the investigation agency if fresh evidence emerged later.
The CB-CID is also investigating another case where a family member of one of the victims was assaulted by the accused.
