KOCHI: The case pertaining to the sexual abuse of a 14-year-old girl from Paravoor here assumed new proportions with the Crime Branch investigation team arresting a Tamil Nadu-based PWD contractor from Chennai international airport on Tuesday.Crime Branch superintendent S Surendran said that the accused identified as Manikandan, 42, of Pallakkal in Kanyakumari district was taken into custody by the Crime Branch team while he was trying to board a flight to Singapore scheduled at 4.15 pm.“The girl has identified the person against whom the Tamil Nadu government has been conducting a vigilance probe for fund misappropriation,” the official said and added that the accused had allegedly exploited the girl for over two days at his farm house at Karakonam near Parassala.Preliminary probe had revealed that Manikandan had paid Rs 40,000 to an agent who in turn paid Rs 20,000 to the girl’s father. “The Crime Branch has so far arrested five persons since the team took over the probe two weeks ago. Around 65 persons have been identified in connection with the case. There will be more arrests in the coming days,” the official said. The probe team had already arrested the agent identified as Joshy. Meanwhile, doctors have started treating the child who is suffering from venereal disease. “The girl is currently put up at the juvenile home in Kakkanad. Strict directions have been issued to restrict visitors,” the police sources said.
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