KATTAPPANA: Arjun (25) of Churakkulam Estate, acquitted in the case of raping and murdering a six-year-old girl at Vandiperiyar in Idukki, surrendered in the Kattappana court. He was later released on bail. He surrendered as per the directive of the Kerala High Court. The government had filed an appeal in the high court against the order of the Kattappana fast-track special court acquitting the accused. The prosecution had informed the court that the accused was trying to flee abroad. He has been directed to produce his passport.
The family had earlier alleged that the negligence of the police in the investigation was the reason for the accused to escape. Arjun, implicated in the case then was acquitted by the Kattappana fast-track POCSO court on December 14 last year due to lack of evidence. The girl's body was found hanging in a room in the estate compound in Vandiperiya on June 30, 2021. The police investigation had found that the accused had been sexually exploiting the child by giving her sweets and food items since she was three years old. The police filed the charge sheet in 78 days.
The verdict came two years after the chargesheet was filed. The court then said that there has been a lapse from the side of the investigating officer in the Vandiperiyar case. This was mentioned in the copy of the verdict acquitting Arjun in the case. The court had pointed out on the day of the verdict that there had been a lapse in collecting evidence and that the credibility of the investigating officer was questionable