Edappal theatre sexual abuse case: Thrissur IG justifies police action

Thiruvananthapuram: IG Thrissur-range M.R. Ajith Kumar is learnt to have maintained that he was unaware of the arrest of the theatre owner in connection with the Edapapal sexual assault case, but justified the arrest. According to sources, Mr Ajith Kumar said in a report submitted to the state police chief that the decision to arrest the theatre owner was taken by the DySP and the Malappuram district police chief was also aware of it.

He further pointed out that the theatre owner was legally liable for delaying to report the crime and hence the DySP's action could not be justified. However, police sources said that the state police chief Loknath Behera had expressed strong dissatisfaction over the police action. The police was under further defensive as legal experts pointed out that non-cognizable offences were only arraigned against the theatre owner and hence the police should have arrested him only after obtaining court's permission.