MADURAI: A 50-year-old man was arrested by the officers of T Kallupatti police station on Tuesday for sexually assaulting and impregnating his 13-year-old stepdaughter.
Child Welfare Committee (CWC) member B Pandiyaraja, who gave counselling to the victim and her mother, told TOI that the victim’s mother, who is from Idukki district, became a widow 11 years ago. Then, her two daughters were two and six-years-old.
The accused man – Ramesh (name changed) – married the victim’s mother seven years ago on the grounds of providing protection to the woman’s two daughters.
Ramesh too was married and had children. On knowing about his second marriage, his first wife and children abandoned him. Following this, he moved his second family to Madurai.
The victim girl, who dropped out of school after completing her Class IV, is now in her second trimester of pregnancy. Tests revealed that the victim, her mother and the accused were HIV positive.
The incident came to light when doctors at Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) found that she is pregnant, following her admission on Sunday evening. After informing police about the minor’s pregnancy, the police sought the help of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC).
Earlier, the girl did not reveal about the assault despite repeated counselling by doctors and paramedics.
Based on the statements given by the victim’s mother, police grew suspicious of the man.
The CWC member said that since September, 2020, the man repeatedly assaulted the girl.
Four days ago, the girl fell ill and was taken to a private hospital in Thirumangalam. She was then referred to GRH.
The accused was booked under sections 5(l) (commits penetrative sexual assault on the child more than once or repeatedly), 5(j)(ii) (makes the child pregnant as a consequence of sexual assault) and 6 (punishment for aggravated penetrative sexual assault) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act on Monday night.
Peraiyur DSP T Mathialagan said that Ramesh was arrested on Tuesday and will be produced before the court and lodged in jail under judicial custody the same night. He added that the trail of the HIV infection – whether the man got it from the girl’s mother or vice versa – will be known later this week when results for the tests on the extent of infection is out.
Pandiarajan said that the CWC will give a recommendation letter to abort the foetus. “Due to her health and medical conditions we will also provide care and protection for her and help her continue schooling,” he added.
(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme court directives on cases related to sexual assault)