Opposition Demands Probe into Police Lapses in Vandiperiyar Rape Case Acquittal

The acquittal of Arjun, a DYFI worker in connection with the Vandiperiyar Rape case has taken a political turn after VD Satheeshan, the leader of the opposition demanded a thorough inquiry into the lapses in the investigation and evidence collection by police. On Thursday, the Kattappana Fast Track POCSO court ruled that the prosecution was unable to piece together evidence to corroborate that the heinous crime was done by the accused, a 21-year-old.

"The court verdict in the Vandiperiyar POCSO case underlines that the government is not serious about child safety issues. It is clear as day that the police and the prosecution have failed. The Chief Minister should answer in this regard," the Congress leader demanded. He also raised his suspicion about whether the accused was given a long rope by the police by leaving large gaps in the probe because of his affiliation with DYFI, the youth wing of the CPIM.

"The prosecution was extremely weak. It has already been alleged that the CPM local leadership helped the accused to go into hiding. Attempting to bury the child's body before the post-mortem was also part of the conspiracy to sabotage the investigation of the case," Satheeshan stated. 

He also questioned how the accused who confessed to raping and strangling the girl could go scot-free. 

WILL FILE FOR APPEAL: VICTIMS FAMILY

The victim's family told the media they will file for appeal in the Kerala High Court. " We will file an appeal in the High Court as soon as we get permission from the Director General of Prosecution," stated Special Public Prosecutor Sunil Maheswaran.

SC/ST act was not invoked, Police helped the accused: the Girl's father.

The lapses in investigation gained further momentum after the victim's father raised police not slapping SC/ST atrocities act in the rape case. "We came to know that the SC/ST act was not included only after we received a letter that no assistance would be provided to fight. "When we asked why the act was not included, the police had replied it would make matters complex," stated the father to the local media in Idukki,

Had the act been invoked the case would have been investigated by a DYSP rank officer. 

I WILL DELIVER JUSTICE: GIRL'S FATHER

After the verdict, the distraught father told the media that he would deliver justice to his daughter by himself. He shouted out stating court couldn't deliver. It's onto me to deliver justice.

POLICE FOOLS PUBLIC IN CRIMINAL CASES: WALAYAR RAPE CASE ACTIVIST

Prasad Somarajan the activist who backed the parents of infamous Walayar rape case victims expressed no surprise in the case development. 

The Walayar rape case refers to a tragic incident involving the sexual assault and death of two minor sisters in Walayar, Palakkad. The sisters, aged 13 and 9, were found dead in their home in 2017 within two months.

"In Walayar's case, the police directly destroyed evidence. In Vandiperiyar case, the police declared before the public and media that they had full proof evidence against the accused and later when the court proceedings began, this evidence was made weak," this is the modus operandi which is being followed for many criminal cases," he lamented. "The people will lose faith in police and judiciary," he warned.