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A former Indian state minister was arrested in Bengaluru, India on Sunday, 20 June, after allegedly raping a Malaysian actress, along with several other alleged offences
According to The Hindu, the arrest comes after the actress lodged a complaint against Dr M Manikandan at the Adyar All Women Police Station in Chennai last month.
Manikandan, who was Tamil Nadu’s information technology (IT) minister from 2016 to 2019, was accused of cheating the victim after she claimed that he had promised to marry her but kept postponing a divorce with his wife.
The already-married Manikandan was introduced to her, known for acting in 2009 film Nadodigal, in 2017 and they developed a friendship under the pretext of making an investment in Malaysia.
Image via The Free Press Journal
Besides cheating, the police have also booked Manikandan for rape, causing miscarriage, causing hurt, and criminal intimidation under the Indian Penal Code
India Today reported that the 36-year-old actress also alleged during their five-year, live-in relationship, 44-year-old Manikandan impregnated her and forced her to get abortions three times.
She also claimed that when she insisted he marry her, he has attacked her, issued death threats, threatened her family members in Malaysia, and also threatened to release their intimate photos and videos online to blackmail her multiple times.
Image via Thandora Times
The former state minister was finally arrested by a special police team on Sunday after he was summoned for inquiry but did not appear
According to The Indian Express, Manikan was evading arrest and ran off to neighbouring Karnataka after his advance bail was rejected by the Madras High Court.
Manikandan has reportedly denied all allegations against him.
These Malaysian organisations aim to help survivors of rape and sexual assault:
1. WOMEN’S AID ORGANISATION (WAO)
Operating hours: 24-hour
Contact: +603-30008858
SMS/WhatsApp: +6018-9888058
2. ALL WOMEN’S ACTION SOCIETY (AWAM)
Operating hours: Weekdays (9.30am – 4.30pm)
Contact: +603-78770224
WhatsApp: +6016-2284221 | +6016-2374221
Email: [email protected]
3. WOMEN’S CENTRE FOR CHANGE PENANG (WCC PENANG)
Operating hours: Weekdays (9am – 5pm)
Contact: +604-2280342 | +604-3988340
WhatsApp: +6011-31084001 | +6016-4390698
Email: [email protected]
4. SARAWAK WOMEN FOR WOMEN SOCIETY (SWWS)
Operating hours: Monday to Friday (9am to 5.30pm)
Contact: +6082-422660
SMS/WhatsApp: +6013-8044285
Email: [email protected]
5. SABAH WOMEN’S ACTION-RESOURCE GROUP (SAWO)
Operating hours: Monday to Friday (9am to 2pm)
Contact: +6088-280200
Email: [email protected]
6. PROTECT AND SAVE THE CHILDREN (PS THE CHILDREN)
Operating hours: Monday to Friday (8.30am to 5.30pm)
Contact: +6016-2273065 | +6016-7213065
WhatsApp: +6016-7213065
Email: [email protected]
7. INTERNET WATCH FOUNDATION (IWF)
Anonymously and confidentially report child sexual abuse content and non-photographic child sexual abuse images with IWF’s Reporting Portal.