Police to seek custody of Sobha John, accomplices

The special investigation squad, probing Varapuzha sex scandal case, will file an application before the Paravoor court today seeking police custody of Sobha John, Bachu Rehman and K Anil, the three main accused in the Varapuzha sex case, for detailed interrogation.

Sobha John, Rehman and Anil. have been remanded to judicial custody till October 21.

The case involves a 16-year-old girl who was rescued from a brothel recently. According to police, the girl was sold by her parents to Sobha John for Rs 1 lakh at Thiruvananthapuram last year.

On October 4th Sobha John was apprehended by a 10-member police team led by Ernakulam rural SP Harshita along with five others from Bangalore. The girl had confirmed the involvement of Shobha John in the case.

The girl was allegedly sold for Rs one lakh by her parents to Shobha John last year in Thiruvananthapuram. Police had arrested the girl along with two others from Varapuzha.

Meanwhile the Circle Inspector of Police who probed the ‘Varappuzha’ sex racket case was removed from further investigation in the case for allowing the prime accused Shobha John to speak to media when she was brought to here after arrest from Bangalore.

According to police sources, the action against CI Abdul Salam was recommended by DYSP, Aluva, who found lapse on the part of him for having allowed John to speak to the media. The police higher-ups also took exception to Salam having conducted a press meet without getting prior permission from his superiors.

Sabu George, CI of nearby Vadekkekkara, has been entrusted with further investigation in the case. Sobha John, wanted in connection with the sex racket case involving a minor girl, was arrested in Bangalore alongwith three of her male accomplices.

When she was brought here, she told media that she would reveal the names of all those who sexually exploited the victim. Sobha, also accused in other criminal cases, spoke in the presence of CI Salam.

Shobha John, also an accused in other criminal cases, and the three others were arrested last evening by a Kerala police team and brought to Paravoor near here today. Police said Shohba, Bechu Rahman, K Anil and Kannan were apprehended while they were about to board a car after shopping in a mall in Bangalore.