Now, a new officer to monitor investigation

KOCHI: Even as the Crime Branch decided to alert the Interpol to trace the big shots involved in the sensational Paravoor sex scandal case, the police headquarters decided to change the officer monitoring the case. At a high-level meeting held on Wednesday at the police HQ in Thiruvananthapuram, it was decided to bring in Temple Theft Investigation Special Team (TTIST) Superintendent Unniraja to the probe team. Till now, the case was probed by a team led by Crime Branch DySP Bijo Alexander under the monitoring of Superintendent S Surendran. With the new decision, Unniraja will monitor the case while others in the team remain the same. DGP Jacob Punnoose said that the decision to change the monitoring official was taken considering the enormity of the case. "Unniraja is an efficient official and the service of such an official is needed to take the case to greater heights. The decision has been taken in the best interest of the case," the DGP added. Officials in the investigation team said that the girl has a strong memory and is able to identify those who abused her. "She has infact noted down the details of those who abused her," the officials said and added that a few of the big shots in the case have fled to foreign countries and the Crime Branch is deciding to alert the Interpol to nab them. "A few high profile persons, including a renowned doctor have gone abroad, since the incident came to light. We need the help of the Interpol to track them," the officials added. The Crime Branch had arrested a total of 45 persons so far in connection with the case. The sexual abuse of the 14-year-old girl came to light three months ago after her mother lodged a complaint before the police submitting that her husband had forcefully taken the daughter to prostitution. Based on the submissions made by the girl, the police registered a case and launched a probe.Though the police were able to arrest a few persons including the girl's father and mother, the government handed over the investigation to Crime Branch after there were allegations that the police officials were trying to help a few high profile persons belonging to film industry.