A man accused of raping a tribal Odisha woman employed as a domestic help surrenders to police

Image used for representational purposes. File | Photo credit: The Hindu

A man accused of raping a tribal woman from Odisha who worked as a domestic help at his home in the city surrendered to the police on Saturday morning (November 9, 2024).

The suspect, identified as K. Sivaprasad, 75, who had been a director of several government companies in the past, surrendered before the Assistant Commissioner, Ernakulam, who investigated the case. Shortly afterwards, he complained of discomfort and remains admitted to a city hospital.

He had been absconding since the Maradu police registered a First Information Report (FIR) last month on a complaint by the survivor, who belonged to a tribal community from Odisha’s Gajapati district. The accused surrendered after the District and Sessions Court, Ernakulam, rejected his expected bail plea on October 29.

Members of the Self-Employed Women’s Association Union (SEWA-Union) had staged a protest march to the Kochi police commissioner demanding immediate arrest of the suspects.

The survivor was rescued by police with the help of a Center for Migration and Inclusive Development (CMID) staff a day after she was allegedly raped at around 11am on October 15. At the time of rescue, she was alone in the house as the family was reportedly away in Guruvayur.

The FIR, based on the survivor’s initial statement, was registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Section 74 (assault or use of criminal force against women with intent to outrage their modesty). Later, a detailed medical examination was conducted, on the basis of which allegations of rape were added.

According to the FIR, the accused added juice to her and then outraged her modesty by taking advantage of her drunken state. The incident came to light after the survivor shared her ordeal over the phone with a relative, who also worked as a domestic help at another house in Ernakulam. The family member in turn shared it with her employer, who alerted the CMID.