Kochi: A special court here has acquitted 15 persons in the 2002 Thoppumpady sex scandal case, citing lack of evidence.
During the trial, the victim deposed before the Special Court for the trial of cases relating to atrocities and sexual violence against women and children, Ernakulam, that none of the accused had taken her to any location as alleged in the chargesheet and subjected her to sexual abuse.
Of the remaining four accused, two had expired during the trial while Muhammad alias Krishna Murali, a native of Kannur, and Paulson, the third and ninth accused in the case, are absconding.
The victim, then a 16-year old girl and originally a native of Thrissur, had come to Kochi in 2002 and was allegedly lured into a trap of sex racketeers, who also shot pornographic films using her. The abuse came to light when the girl landed in police custody during a raid at a hotel near Thoppumpady.
The victim’s mother approached the Kerala High Court in 2006, which appointed a special investigation team to probe the case. The Crime branch submitted a charge sheet in 2010 against 19 persons under IPC 120 (B) (1), 292, 372, 372, and Indecent Representation of women (prohibition) Act , in addition to relevant provisions of the Immoral Traffic Prevention Act.
