Kerala - Kochi

Kiliroor case: accused appear before magistrate

Kochi: Four accused in the Kiliroor sex scandal case appeared before the Ernakulam Chief Judicial Magistrate on Monday. The court posted the case to November 12 for the remaining accused to appear in person. There are nine accused in the case. The magistrate had directed the CBI to file a separate charge-sheet against Abdul Lathif alias Collector Lathif and V.K. Devadas as they had been charged with only Section 212 (harbouring offenders) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC)

The case related to sexual exploitation of a girl from Kiliroor, near Kottayam, by the accused after offering her roles in television serials. The girl had died at the Medical College Hospital (MCH) few days after she gave birth to a baby girl.

The accused who appeared before the court were Binu, Manoj, Somanathan and Omanakutty. They have been charged with offences punishable under Sections 120B (conspiracy), 420 (cheating), 376(2)(g) (committing gang rape), 506 (criminal intimidation), 109 (abetment) and 212 (harbouring offenders) of Indian Penal Code.

The charge-sheet filed by the CBI said the investigation had revealed that Kochumon had introduced the girl to Latha Nair, who was supposed to get her a role in television serials, in August 2003. It said the victim was taken by the accused to Palani and Guruvayur and Edappaly in Ernakulam. The girl was forced to consume liquor and was gang-raped.

When she got pregnant, she was referred to the Medical College. She had been diagnosed with acute intestinal obstruction and was discharged from the hospital in August 28, 2004. Later, she was admitted to two private hospitals and the Medical College.

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