The girl, who was allegedly raped first by her father Sudheer himself, has been hospitalised with venereal diseases. The police have arrested 29 of the 98 persons, including Sudheer who exploited the girl.
According to the Crime Branch police, who are investigating the case, the father forced his daughter to have sex with him after threatening to kill her by throwing her from the Varappuzha bridge.
The kingpin of the racket later turned out to be Manikantan, a Kanyakumari-based road contractor to whom Sudheer and a broker later handed over the girl. Manikantan was picked up by the police from the Chennai airport last Monday as he was trying to flee to Singapore. “The man who is well-connected had taken possession of the girl at the border area of Parassala where her father and the broker had taken her by bus,’’ an official who is part of the probe team said. The father is alleged to have received Rs 40,000 in return.
From there, Manikantan took her by car to his guest house in the district where he not only exploited her but also later used her to entertain his high connections. He also took her to several places to use her “services” to get things done. The probe team has zeroed in on some cops in south Tamil Nadu whose names were spilled by Manikantan who has now been lodged in the Aluva sub-jail. They include a circle inspector of the Special Branch police in Kanyakumari who is likely to be arrested soon. Several film personalities have also been named by the girl who managed to show her face in a couple of films.
Most of the 29 people arrested were identified based on the statements given by several brokers who “marketed” the girl. The girl who identified them has been handed over to a juvenile home and is said to be recovering from her illness.