Makeup artist and student arrested for raping 15-year-old Chennai girl at birthday party

CHENNAI: A 15-year-old girl attending the birthday party of a young film artist was raped by the woman’s acquaintances in May after they laced her drink with alcohol at an apartment in Saligramam. Police arrested the artist and a male college student on Saturday. The search is on for another suspect.

The victim, a Class 11 student of a private school, used to frequent a cafe in Anna Nagar where she met the woman, who works as a make-up artist for films. Over time, they became friends, police said.

On May 13, the woman had invited the girl to her birthday party at a flat in Saligramam. According to police sources, the woman and her male friends gave the girl drugged drinks. When she fell unconscious, the men raped her.

When the victim realized that she had been sexually assaulted, she confronted the make-up artist, who allegedly threatened her to keep quiet.

A few days ago, the victim told her sister about the incident, who took the girl to the hospital for a check-up. Her family members then filed a complaint with the Virugambakkam AWPS (All Women Police Station).

After an investigation, the police confirmed the sexual assault and arrested the young artiste and one of her male friends, a college student, on Saturday after filing a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. The accused were produced before a magistrate and remanded in custody.