Police inspector, BJP functionary held in rape case of 13-yr-old girl

C Pugazhendhi, a law and order inspector of Ennore police station, was arrested along with a BJP functionary, G Rajendran (44) of Washermenpet, for raping the victim at the latter’s office. During the investigation, Sandhya, a broker and one of the accused, told police that she had sent the victim to Rajendran. Rajendran, who was interrogated, revealed that he along with Pugazhendhi raped the girl at his office. After the victim identified both of them, they were added as accused in the list and were produced before the magistrate for judicial remand on Monday night. “The girl did not know that he was a police officer,” said an official to DT Next. The Washermenpet all-woman police registered a case based on a complaint by the victim’s mother and arrested the victim’s niece, Shahitha Banu, the latter’s husband, Madhan, his mother, A Selvi, among others including Sandhya. The victim, who was sent to Shahitha Banu’s house in Vyasarpadi, was first raped by Madhan, who later forced her and sent her with brokers.

“She was raped at least eight times a day,” said an official who investigated the case. Since the girl’s mother wanted to see her after two months, Shahitha Banu persuaded Madhan to bring the minor girl from brokers. After the girl narrated the harrowing tales of abuse, she approached Washermenpet all-woman police and a case was registered. “We did not hesitate to arrest the Inspector after he was established as an accused. This sends out a strong message that the police stands for what is just and will not spare anyone if he or she is culpable,” said an official.