After uproar on social media over a three year jail term to a thief who allegedly 'raped 50 women', the Chennai police have claimed that the claim is false. Talking to TNM, an investigaing officer from the Velachery station said that no such admission was made by the convict.
Multiple news reports on Friday alleged that a convict named Arivalagan, has carried out over 25 burglaries had raped 50 women in Chennai. It further claimed that he had received three years of imprisonment for the crimes, that he had admitted. However, the Velachery police who are handling the case denied the allegation.
"There is only one rape case against him and that has not even gone for trial," says an investigating officer. "Infact, even this case came to light after we investigated the matter thoroughly. The family refused to accept the matter initially. We had to convince them for days to come for a medical examination and to give a rape complaint," he adds.
The rape case is being handled by a Mahila station in Guindy.
Then what is the three year imprisonment for?
"This was awarded for the burglary cases. He had also threatened people at knife point," says the officer.
The police allege that the case was misreported even on November 16, when the rapist was first caught. "The commissioner was very upset by the news that was travelling. If he had admitted to raping 50 women, we would have definitely acted on it," says the officer.
Reports however say that the convict allegedly targeted women who were alone at home and raped them. He reportedly took videos of his act in addition to looting the house. He allegedly admitted to raping 25 women in his statement to the police.