Former Nagercoil MLA Nanjil A Murugesan booked for raping minor girl

KANYAKUMARI: Former Nagercoil MLA Nanjil A Murugesan, 53, who was expelled from the primary membership of AIADMK on Monday evening, has been booked under various sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act on charges of raping a minor girl three years ago.
Murugesan was a member of the Tamil Nadu assembly from 2011 to 2016.
Highly placed police sources said a special team was on the lookout for Murugesan who was absconding. They expressed confidence on nabbing him soon.
An official in the district child protection unit said the incident came to light only two days ago. The girl, who is now 15 years old, had eloped with a youth. A kidnap ing case was booked against the youth since the girl is a minor.
The girl was rescued and produced before a court where she stated that she had been sexually abused by the former MLA. The issue was brought before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) on Monday.
On the directions of the CWC, the district child protection unit lodged a complaint. The Nagercoil all-woman police registered a case against Murugesan.
In a statement issued on Monday evening, AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam and joint coordinator Edappadi K Palaniswami announced the expulsion of Nanjil Murugesan from the party. According to the statement, the decision was taken due to his functioning against the principles and objectives of the party and for tarnishing the image of the party.
Panneerselvam and Palaniswami asked party cadre not to have any contacts with him.