CBI gets Pollachi serial sexual assault case, where foursome films the rape

Chennai: The Tamil Nadu Government on Thursday issued an Order transferring the probe into the recent sexual assault and blackmailing of several women in Pollachi by a group of people, to the CBI, even as protests swelled across the State for the third day today, demanding punitive action against all those involved in it.

The GO, transferring the case to the CBI, was issued two days after Director General of Police (DGP) T K Rajendran ordered a CB-CID probe into it, after the incident created a furore, with the Opposition parties demanding stringent action against the culprits.

The four accused in the case, including the mastermind Thirunavukarasu, were already detained under the Goondas Act following a direction from Coimbatore District Collector K Rajamani based on recommendations from Coimbatore Rural Superintendent R Pandiarajan.

The four--Thirunavukkarasu, Sathish, Sabarirajan, Vasanthakumar--all in their 20s, were accused of sexually assaulting many young women in Pollachi area over a period of time and filming the act. 

The mobile phones seized from the accused had videos of at least 40 women who the accused had allegedly blackmailed for money and sexual favours.Police suspect that at least 15 people were said to be involved in the serial sexual assault case. 

The GO said the DGP, on a complaint from a college student on February 24 that she was physically and sexually harassed by a group of men inside a car, cases were registered at Pollachi East Police Station under Sec 354-A, 354-B and 392 of IPC (Central Act XLV of 1860) and Sec 66-E of Information Technology Act, 2000 and Sec 4 of Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act, 1998 (Tamil Nadu Act 44 of 1998) against the four accused, who were later arrested and sent to judicial custody.(UNI)