28-year-old woman drugged, 'sexually assaulted' in Kerala; accused arrested

PATHANAMTHITTA: An auto-rickshaw driver was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman after allegedly drugging her with spiked juice in Kerala’s Adoor, police said on Saturday.

The accused, identified as Vinod, a native of Adoor, had reportedly gone into hiding after a case was registered against him, police added.

According to police, the 28-year-old woman was living separately from her husband near the accused’s residence.

Officials at Adoor police station said she frequently hired Vinod’s auto-rickshaw for travel.

Police alleged that in February this year, Vinod gave the woman spiked juice and sexually assaulted her.

Police alleged that the accused later recorded videos of the victim and repeatedly threatened and sexually harassed her.

According to investigators, Vinod continued threatening to upload the videos on social media, prompting the woman to inform her husband about the incident.

Police further alleged that Vinod assaulted the woman during an altercation, following which she approached the police and lodged a complaint last month.

Following a delay in Vinod’s arrest, the complainant approached the district police chief, after which the probe was intensified and the accused was arrested on Friday night.

Police officials said Vinod was being interrogated and efforts were underway to recover digital evidence linked to the case.

He will be produced before a court as part of the remand proceedings, police added.


(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme court directives on cases related to sexual assault)

(With agency inputs)