CB-CID takes over Tamil Nadu teenager abduction case

The Crime Branch CID (CB-CID) has taken over the investigation into the abduction of a boy in Thiruvalangadu, a case in which senior IPS officer and suspended Additional Director General of Police H.M. Jayaram, along with Puratchi Bharatham Katchi leader Poovai M. Jagan Moorthy and others, are allegedly involved.

The abduction was allegedly carried out to separate an inter-caste couple — Dhanush, 22, of Kalambakkam village in Tiruvallur district, and Vijaya Sri, 21, of Theni district — who got married on April 15 this year, amid stiff resistance from the latter’s parents.

Vijaya’s parents had reportedly approached a former woman sub-inspector, who has been dismissed from service, to help separate the couple. At 12:50 a.m. on June 7, five individuals arrived at Dhanush’s house on Bank Street in Kalambakkam. The couple was not staying there at the time, and it was his mother Lakshmi who opened the door.

Noting the couple’s absence, they allegedly abducted Dhanush’s brother Inder Chand, and threatened to release him only if the couple’s whereabouts were disclosed. As soon as they left, Lakshmi called the police control room, and later made an online complaint about the abduction of her younger son. 

At around 3 p.m., the group abandoned Inder Chand at Perambakkam Bus Stand. Lakshmi alleged in her complaint that her younger son was physically and mentally harassed by the kidnappers.

At 2 p.m. on June 7, the Thiruvalangadu police registered a case under Sections 189(2) (unlawful assembly), 329(4) (criminal trespass and house trespass), and 140(3) (kidnapping or abducting in order to murder or for ransom) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against five men whose faces were known but addresses unknown.

ADGP and MLA’s involvement

The police said that MLA Jagan Moorthy was a suspect in the case, and that the car of ADGP Jayaram was used in the abduction, when the anticipatory bail petition filed by Moorthy came up for hearing in the Madras High Court on June 16. Justice P. Velmurugan ordered the police to secure the ADGP and take action against him, while directing the MLA to appear before the investigating officer. 

However, they were both let go after an hours-long interrogation. Jayaram was placed under suspension. In the meantime, Jayaram moved a special leave petition in the Supreme Court challenging the order of the High Court. The apex court transferred the petition pending in the Madras High Court to another judge, besides directing the CB-CID probe the case.

Sources in the police said the case has been registered afresh by the CB-CID, and an investigation officer has been appointed for further probe. The accused will be summoned for an inquiry soon, said the sources.