The Chief Judicial Magistrate court in Coimbatore on Friday granted Crime Branch CID four days custody of K. Thirunavukkarasu, an accused in the Pollachi sexual abuse case.
TheCB-CID had sought 10 days custody, but Magistrate S. Nagarajan granted only four days — till March 18 evening.
The hearing on the custody application took place amidst high drama as the CB-CID that had planned to take Thirunavukkarasu to court decided against it. Instead, it established a video link between the Coimbatore Central Prison, where the accused is lodged, and the court.
Coimbatore City Police sources said the CB-CID decided against taking the accused to the court sensing that people who had gathered there could assault or harm him and that could lead to a deterioration of the law and order situation in the court complex.
Meanwhile in Pollachi, a CB-CID team searched the houses of accused N. Sabarirajan. Sources said the team comprising two inspectors and a sub-inspector began the search operation at Sabarirajan’s house in Jothi Nagar-MGR Colony around 1 p.m. and continued searching for around four hours.
Houses searched
The houses of Thirunavukkarasu were searched on Thursday. The investigating agency is said to have taken away laptops, compact discs and other storage devices.
A human chain protest was staged by women's organisations, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and its allies. In Coimbatore, the CB-CID continued to receive calls from persons who claimed to be victims in the Pollachi sexual abuse case.
Sources here said after the investigating agency published its number for people to call, it received over 100 calls on Friday alone.