1 hr ago
Vijay Directs Police to Intensify POCSO Probe Into Businessman Case
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has told police to investigate a serious child-protection case more thoroughly.
The accused is an 84-year-old businessman.
Police say several minor girls have reported that he abused them.
One video allegedly shows a minor being assaulted at his guest house in Teynampet.
The report says nine more girls gave statements, while an earlier police account referred to seven additional girls.
The businessman was arrested on August 29 along with two other alleged accused.
Because of his age and health, police are questioning him inside prison and recording the process.
A court rejected an earlier attempt to close the case and ordered the investigation to continue.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay ordered police to intensify the POCSO investigation and identify everyone connected to the case.
Nine additional minor girls reportedly gave statements alleging sexual abuse by the 84-year-old businessman.
Police earlier said seven girls besides the original complainant had been identified and their statements recorded before a POCSO Special Court.
The businessman was arrested on August 29 and is being questioned inside Puzhal prison under video recording because of his age and health.
The court rejected an initial closure report, while police formed a women-led team to identify minors appearing in the alleged assault video.
- Who
- Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, Chennai City Police, the 84-year-old businessman, and several minor girls are central to the case.
- What
- Police are intensifying a POCSO investigation into alleged sexual abuse of minor girls and an alleged assault video.
- Where
- The alleged assault reportedly occurred at a guest house in Teynampet, Chennai; the accused is being questioned inside Puzhal prison.
- When
- The businessman was arrested on August 29; the alleged offence occurred in 2019, and questioning is authorized through September 20.
- Why
- The investigation was intensified after additional girls gave statements, and after a court rejected the police closure report and ordered further investigation.
Further Investigation
Initial Closure Position
Whether the case should continue
Further Investigation
The court rejected the police closure report and ordered a further probe; the Chief Minister directed police to investigate all angles and arrest anyone found connected to the alleged offence.
Initial Closure Position
Police initially attempted to close the case, citing an inability to identify people in the video.
Key facts
- Accused
- An 84-year-old businessman
- Arrest date
- August 29
- Additional complainants
- The report says nine more minor girls gave statements; an earlier police account cited seven additional girls besides the original complainant.
- Alleged offence location
- The businessman’s guest house in Teynampet
- Investigation team
- A special team of women police Sub-Inspectors was formed to identify minors appearing in the video.
- Questioning arrangements
- Questioning is conducted inside Puzhal prison from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. under video recording, taking account of the accused’s age and health.
- Additional law invoked
- The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act was added after one survivor was identified as belonging to a Scheduled Caste community.
Sources
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