The Pollachi Magistrate Court, on Monday, extended the remand for another 15 days for three of the four accused in a sexual abuse case in the town. The police are also taking steps to slap Goondas Act on the accused.
The case relates to four men - Thirunavukkarasu, Sathish, Sabarirajan and Vasanthakumar, who sexually abused women after befriending them on Facebook. Since Thirunavukkarasu was arrested only on March 5, his period of custody has not yet come to an end.
The incident had come to light on February 24, when one of the survivors filed a police complaint detailing the abuse she was subjected to by the men. In the FIR filed based on her complaint, it was mentioned that the survivor, Priya* was friends with Thirunavukkarasu and Sabarirajan. On the date of incident, Sabarirajan asked her to meet him in a secluded place so that he can introduce his friends to her. As Priya went to the decided place, Sabarirajan told her to get into a car in which two other men also joined. The men then sexually abused Priya and took pictures and videos of her using their mobile phones.
Priya was then abandoned on the way to her house and the car sped away. What followed was frequent calls from the accused to Priya, asking her for money, threatening to upload the video on the internet. Unable to bear the torture, Priya brought the issue to the attention of her parents and family and filed a police complaint. While Sabarirajan, Vasanthakumar and Sathish were arrested on February 24, Thirunavukkarasu was absconding. Finally, on March 5, the police apprehended Thirunavukkarasu also, when he was on his way back home.
Following a round of preliminary questioning, the police had earlier told TNM that the accused were not first time offenders and that they had sexually abused women for money many time in the past. The police had also urged the public to come forward and file a complaint, in case they have been affected by this gang. However, as on Monday, nobody else had filed a complaint with the police.