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News18
38 minutes ago
- News18
Tamil Nadu Pastor Who Used Home Church As Cover To Sexually Abuse Minor Schoolgirls Held
Last Updated: Victor Kamaraj, a 54-year-old preacher, was arrested for sexually assaulting over ten female students in Thiruvallur. Evidence from his phone led to his arrest under the POCSO Act In a disturbing development, a 54-year-old self-proclaimed religious preacher, identified as Victor Kamaraj, has been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting over ten female students near Sengunram in Tamil Nadu's Thiruvallur district. The arrest comes amidst a troubling increase in sexual assault incidents reported in the region. Kamaraj, who operated a church from his home, reportedly took advantage of a tuition program run by his wife, an Anganwadi centre employee. It was during these evening classes for schoolgirls that the alleged assaults occurred. Parents of the victims filed a complaint, prompting a police investigation. Sources indicate that a crucial piece of evidence emerged from Kamaraj's cell phone, which reportedly contained information confirming the sexual harassment of the students. Following this discovery, police swiftly arrested Kamaraj under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. He was subsequently produced in court and is currently lodged in Puzhal jail. This arrest is the latest in a series of alarming incidents of sexual assault in the Thiruvallur area. Just recently, an Assamese youth was apprehended in a separate case involving the kidnapping and sexual assault of a girl in a neighbouring village. Adding to these concerns, another harrowing incident unfolded mere days later in the Kanakamma Chathiram area, where expansion work for the Chennai-Tirupathi National Highway is underway. A 17-year-old girl walking by was allegedly abducted and subjected to an attempted rape by a young man, reportedly working on the highway project. Her screams alerted local villagers, who bravely intervened. The assailant attempted to flee but was chased down, apprehended by the villagers, and then handed over to the police. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.


India.com
44 minutes ago
- India.com
Prajwal Revanna, former JD(S) MP, given life sentence in rape case
Bengaluru: A Special Court here on Saturday sentenced to life imprisonment, former MP and suspended JD(S) leader Prajwal Revanna in a rape case. The Special Court for MPs/MLAs Judge Santosh Gajanan Bhat also imposed a total fine of Rs 10 lakh on the accused. The court had on Friday convicted the 34-year-old in one of the four sexual abuse and rape cases registered against him and reserved the sentencing for Saturday. The case pertains to a 48-year-old woman who was working as a help at the family's Gannikada farmhouse in Hassan district's Holenarasipura. She was allegedly raped twice — at Hassan farm house and Bengaluru residence– in 2021 and the act recorded by the accused on his mobile phone. Earlier in the day, while the prosecution sought life sentence for Revanna, the 34 year-old sought leniency, claiming he did nothing wrong and that his only mistake was his 'fast' growth in politics. He broke down in court as he appealed to the judge for a lesser punishment. He told the court that he is a BE Mechanical graduate, and has always passed on merit. '…they say that I have raped multiple women, but none of the women have come out voluntarily to complain, they came six days prior to election (Lok Sabha polls last year)…the prosecution side brought them purposefully and made them give a complaint,' Prajwal told the court. Pointing out that the woman (victim) had not complained to anyone including her husband or kin about the alleged rape, he said that she comes and gives complaint when certain videos were circulated. Stating that he will bow down to the court's conviction, Prajwal said, 'I have a family, I have not seen my mother and father for six months now…..please give me a less sentence is what I request the court.' 'The only mistake I made in my life is growing fast in politics,' Prajwal, arrested in May last year upon his arrival from Germany, told the court. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) which probed the case had filed a 1,632-page charge sheet with 113 witnesses in the case in September, 2024. Revanna was booked under sections 376(2)(k) (being in a position of control or dominance over a woman, commits rape on such woman), 376 (2)(n) (repeated rape on the same woman), 354A (sexual harassment), 354B (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe), 354C (voyeurism), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 201 (disappearance of evidence) of the IPC, and Section 66E (violation of privacy) of the IT Act. Special Public Prosecutor Ashok Nayak and Additional SPP B N Jagadeesha following Prajwal Revanna's conviction on Friday had said that the court had accepted the prosecution's case and convicted him on all counts. Noting that the prosecution examined 26 witnesses and marked 180 documents and the main evidence is of the victim, Nayak said the prosecution relied not only on the oral evidence, but also the digital and technical evidence, DNA report and Forensic Sciences Laboratory report. 'The clothes that were worn by the victim during the rape were also identified and the Investigation Officer (IO) was successful in seizing them even after three-four years. Also, digital evidence played a role as the accused himself had recorded the video.' Four separate cases have been registered against Revanna, who is facing charges of rape and sexual harassment, and the SIT was tasked with probing cases. Prajwal Revanna is the grandson of former Prime Minister and JD (S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda. The cases came to light after pen-drives containing explicit videos allegedly involving Revanna were reportedly circulated in Hassan, ahead of Lok Sabha polls there on April 26, 2024. Revanna was arrested by the SIT on May 31 last year, upon his arrival at Bengaluru Airport from Germany in connection with a case registered at the Holenarasipura Town Police Station. Revanna had failed in his bid to retain the Hassan parliamentary constituency in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. JD(S) suspended him from the party following the cases filed against him.


The Hindu
44 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Four detained under Goondas Act in Tenkasi
Four persons have been detained under the Goondas Act in the district. An official statement said ganja peddler M. Sudalai Manikandan, 33, of Sundarapandiapuram, A. Balaji, 20, of Paavoorchathram for carrying lethal weapons, POCSO case accused A. Ramar, 43, of Thiruvettanallur and R. Chellasamy, 41, of Ayyapuram were arrested by the police. Since all the four posed a threat to peace and the rule of law, Superintendent of Police S. Aravind recommended to Collector A.K. Kamal Kisore their detention under the Goondas Act. Subsequently, the Collector ordered their detention under the Goondas Act on Saturday.