Rape charge added to FIR in Pollachi sexual assault case

R Manivannan, the fifth accused in the case, reportedly confessed to raping 'a few women' along with the five other accused, according to reports.
Rape charge added to FIR in Pollachi sexual assault case
Rape charge added to FIR in Pollachi sexual assault case
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Weeks after the sexual assault and extortion of a college student from Pollachi shook the state, the original FIR registered in the case has been altered to include rape. According to reports, Section 376 (Punishment for rape) of the Indian Penal Code was added against the five accused in the case by the Crime Branch CID investigating the case.

According to The Hindu, the rape charge was added following an investigation into other survivors of the gang's sexual assault and extortion racket which came to light in February this year. In addition to stating that they had been raped, the survivors reportedly identified the accused men.

The Times of India reported that R Manivannan, the fifth accused in the case, confessed to raping 'a few women' along with the other accused Thirunavukkarasu, Sathish, Sabarirajan (alias Riswandh) and Vasanthakumar. Manivannan alias Mani had been arrested after he surrendered before the chief judicial magistrate's court in Coimbatore last month.

The Pollachi sexual assault case made headlines in February after a college student from Pollachi approached the police detailing her alleged sexual assault and extortion by a gang of men. An FIR was filed on February 24 against four men involved in allegedly sexually assaulting and blackmailing her with a recorded video of the crime. However, what was first believed to be an isolated crime turned more ghastly as videos of many survivors flooded social media. Four men -- Thirunavukkarasu, Sathish, Sabarirajan (alias Riswandh) and Vasanthakumar -- were arrested by the police. It was later alleged that they were repeat offenders who have assaulted and extorted money from several women in a similar fashion.

Initially an FIR was filed against the four accused under sections 354(A) (sexual harassment), 354 (B) (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe) of the IPC and 66(E) (Punishment for violation of privacy) of Information Technology Act, 2000 and section 4 (Penalty for harassment of woman) of Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Women’s Harassment Act.

 

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