The police on Saturday filed an application before the POCSO court at Thodupuzha to get the custody of Arun Anand, 36, accused in the attack and murder case of a seven-year-old boy at Kumaramangalam.
Deputy Superintendent of Police K.P. Jose said the custody of Arun was needed for collecting more evidence regarding the sexual assault on the victim’s four-year-old brother.
At shelter home
The police have requested two days’ custody of Anand. The police shifted the younger brother, his mother, and maternal grandmother to a shelter home at Cheruthoni.
Child Welfare Committee chairman Joseph Augustine said the child was being taken care of by the grandmother.
It was decided that the boy should not be sent with his mother. The paternal grandfather of the children, who stays in Thiruvananthapuram, has expressed willingness to take care of the younger child.
Mr. Augustine said that the Child Welfare Committee was preparing a report based on the condition of the younger child.
Murder charge invoked
Special Correspondent writes from Kochi: The State government on Monday informed the Kerala High Court that Section 302 (murder) of Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been invoked against Arun Anand.
The government made the submission when a suo motu case initiated by the High Court for monitoring the probe came up for hearing.
The Bench headed by Chief Justice Hrishikesh Roy also issued notice to the State government, State Police Chief, and Idukki District Police Chief.
The government pleader told the court that the probe was in progress. The seven-year-old boy, tortured by Arun Anand, his mother’s partner, succumbed to injuries on April 6.