Mishel Shaji case: Cronin Alexander Baby booked under pocso

Kochi: The Crime Branch team probing the death of  CA student Mishel Shaji Varghese,18,  of  Piravom has charged the provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, on Cronin Alexander Baby who is already accused of abetting her suicide. The CB incorporated the offence under  the Act  in a report submitted before the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, Maradu,  seeking his custody on Saturday. Officials said a case was registered in this regard after it was found that Cronin had a relationship with Mishel prior to her turning 18 in January this year. Cronin confessed to  the cops that the relationship with Mishel was on for the past two years.

The cops could also come across electronic evidence from Cronin which pointed to him harassing the girl. Mishel’s friends had already given statements in this direction. The Crime Branch team which is yet to crack the case is now searching for a possible witness to Mishel  jumping  into the backwaters from the second Goshree bridge. Investigators are of the view that the girl jumped off the bridge around 7.45 p.m. on March 5, when there was a heavy traffic along the route.