Kochi: In a major embarrassment to the police after the arrest of a government pleader on Thursday night, the victim in an alleged sexual abuse case changed her stand before the magistrate on Friday and deposed that the arrest was a case of mistaken identity. Ernakulam Judicial First Class Magistrate Aaj Sudarshan recorded the affidavit filed by the victim and granted bail to Dhanesh Mathew Manjooran.
Government pleader Dhanesh was detained on charges of outraging the modesty of a woman (section 354 IPC) at the convent junction, Ernakulam, on Thursday night. The cops slapped non-bailable offence against him and registered an FIR soon after the detention and recorded his arrest. When the lawyer was produced before the court at 3 p.m. on Friday, the victim filed an affidavit stating that it was a case of mistaken identity and that she has no complaints.
Adv. S. Rajeev appearing for Dhanesh Mathew Manjooran argued that it was a clear case of mistaken identity and that Dhanesh was not involved in the alleged case. Considering the contention, the magistrate granted bail to the accused. The lawyers argued that the police had cooked up a story against Dhanesh. The Kerala High Court Advocates Association on Thursday urged Advocate- General C.P. Sudhakara Prasad to recommend action against the erring police officials.
The central police refuted the allegation and claimed that the police detained Dhanesh after a call was made to 100, the emergency police number. “Since it was a case of sexual abuse, we registered an FIR and recorded the arrest,” they said. The police also claimed that the people had detained Dhanesh at convent junction and handed him over to them.
