A former Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] member and professional makeup artist in the Malayalam film industry, BK Subramanian, was arrested on Wednesday, January 22, in connection with the rape of a four-year-old child. The Chengamanadu Police registered an First Information Report (FIR) on January 15, the same day they received the complaint.
Police said that Subramanian had absconded after he received information that the parents of the child filed a police complaint. Police conducted an investigation of phone records of his relatives and friends and questioned his son. On Wednesday, police arrested him from Kolenchery in Ernakulam.
According to reports, the parents came to know about this incident when the child's mother noticed some marks on her body. Upon seeing that the girl expressed discomfort while urinating, they registered a complaint with the child helpline as well as the police. Reports also indicate that Subramanian was close to the child’s family and he used to drop the child in Anganwadi. He allegedly issued threats to the parents for withdrawing the complaint.
Subramanian was CPI(M)’s Thelathuruth branch committee member and the party expelled him prior to the arrest. All Kerala Cine Makeup Artists and Hairstylists (AKCMH) Association General Secretary Pradeep Rangan told TNM that he has been expelled, where he was holding office as the joint secretary, on Thursday, January 23.
The accused has been booked under relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and sections 65(1) (rape on a woman under sixteen years of age) and 65(2) (rape on a woman under twelve years of age) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).