This is an archive article published on August 30, 2021
Arrested for raping minor, teen gets bail after paternity test comes back negative
The 18-year-old spent 35 days in judicial custody before he was released Saturday. Police had taken him into custody from his house on July 22 midnight, and he was remanded in judicial custody the next day.
A TEENAGER, who was arrested last month for the rape and impregnation of a minor girl in Kerala’s Malappuram district, has been released unconditionally on bail after a DNA paternity test came back negative.
The 18-year-old spent 35 days in judicial custody before he was released Saturday. Police had taken him into custody from his house on July 22 midnight, and he was remanded in judicial custody the next day.
The Class XII student alleged physical and mental torture at the hands of the police, and his lawyer said that they will file a damage suit.
“I vehemently objected to the allegation that I had raped the minor and impregnated her. Before the next day’s break, I was taken to the house of the girl, handcuffed. The girl told the police that I had abused her and was responsible for the pregnancy,” the teenager said after he was released.
He said he knew the girl but denied there was any relationship between them. “When the police forced me to confess to the charges of rape and impregnating the girl, I pleaded ignorance. They tortured me mentally as well as physically to take the responsibility for the pregnancy,” he said.
The teenager’s lawyer said the police moved against the teen solely based on the girl’s statement. “It was the prosecution’s decision to go for a paternity test without any delay. We are planning to file a damage suit against the police,” the lawyer said.
The 18-year-old’s father said the paternity test has brought relief for the entire family. “The girl also hails from our locality, but even after the DNA test result, they haven’t tendered an apology for humiliating my son,” the father said.
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Meanwhile, police sources said although the paternity test came out negative, the teenager will still have to face the sexual abuse charges against him. “We have also started probing to identify the person who has impregnated the girl,” an officer said.
Shaju Philip is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, where he leads the publication's coverage from Kerala. With over 25 years of experience in mainstream journalism, he is one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political, religious, and developmental landscape of South India.
Expertise, Experience, and Authority
Decades of Regional Specialization: Shaju has spent more than two decades documenting the "Kerala Model" of development, its complex communal dynamics, and its high-stakes political environment.
Key Coverage Beats: His extensive reporting portfolio includes:
Political & Governance Analysis: In-depth tracking of the LDF and UDF coalitions, the growth of the BJP in the state, and the intricate workings of the Kerala administration.
Crime & Investigative Journalism: Noted for his coverage of high-profile cases such as the gold smuggling probe, political killings, and the state’s counter-terrorism efforts regarding radicalization modules.
Crisis Management: He has led ground-level reporting during major regional crises, including the devastating 2018 floods, the Nipah virus outbreaks, and the Covid-19 pandemic response. ... Read More
