A Chennai couple, their son and the church pastor have been charged with sexual assault of a minor

A Chennai couple, their 18-year-old son and a church priest have been booked by police for sexually assaulting a minor girl. Police took action on a complaint from the girl’s mother, who is reportedly a well-known playback singer from Hyderabad. She had lodged a police complaint in Chennai alleging that her 15-year-old daughter was sexually abused by three men, including her brother-in-law, her nephew and Pastor Henry of Alliance Church in Chennai.

In her complaint filed with the city police commissioner a few days ago, the singer alleged that the sexual abuse took place for a few years when the girl was living with her aunt and her family for about six years. She had returned to Hyderabad about 18 months ago.

The woman said her sister’s husband and son, as well as the priest, sexually abused her daughter and that the crime was covered up and abetted by her sister. According to the police complaint, which was later lodged at the All Women’s Police Station in Chennai, the child lived with his aunt from the age of six to the age of 13.

An FIR has been registered against the singer’s brother-in-law, nephew, priest and sister, police told TNM. While the sister was charged with abetment to the crime, the others were charged under the POCSO Act. The FIR was registered under Section 10 of the POCSO (Punishment for Aggravated Sexual Assault) Act, along with Section 9 (l) (whoever commits sexual assault on the child more than once or repeatedly) and Section 9 (m) (whoever commits sexual assault commits). Assault on a child below twelve years of age) and Section 9(n) (Sexual assault of minor by a relative) of the POCSO Act and Section 17 (Facilitation) of the POCSO Act and Section 506(2) (Criminal intimidation) of the POCSO- Law Indian Penal Code.

According to police, the girl told her mother several years ago that the church pastor and her uncle had touched her inappropriately. “At that time, the mother told the child that close relatives would not engage in such harassment. However, the child has been living with the mother for around 18 months and this time the mother took the child’s complaint seriously and contacted the police,” an investigating officer said.

Although the child was taken to a hospital for medical examination, the mother and child did not consent to undergo the tests, the police officer said. “We cannot force the child to undergo the test and will be advised. Right now it’s like they touched her inappropriately; To add more sections, we need to subject the child to medical test,” the official added.

According to police, Alliance Church stopped its activities two years ago. “However, Pastor Henry visits houses. He also has links with another major organization, we are investigating there too,” the official said.

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