HYDERABAD: While seeking anticipatory bail in the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) case registered against him, P Raj Kumar, 35, the farmer who killed six persons, including the 16-year-old girl he was accused of stalking, claimed that he was not at the exam centre in Shamshabad on May 16.The police had booked the case against him for allegedly stalking the girl and holding her hand after she had appeared for the intermediate exam that day.The girl’s mother was present at the exam centre at the time. Raj Kumar allegedly threatened to kill the girl and her mother when they resisted him.On the mother’s complaint, a case was booked for stalking, criminal intimidation and sexual harassment.Raj Kumar’s counsel claimed he was with his ill wife, who was admitted at a hospital on May 16. Police officials, however, said they could not verify the claims as they could not find CCTV footage or witnesses.The accused had fled from Shabad after the case was registered and moved an anticipatory bail petition.“Because we opposed it, his petition was rejected twice. He got anticipatory bail on the third attempt because the punishment for the charges was below seven years,” said an investigating official.
Raj Kumar also denied allegations that he had installed CCTV cameras at his home to monitor the girl’s movements and that he lived further away.But officials confirmed he lived right next to the girl’s house and had installed CCTV cameras.Raj Kumar claimed that the false Pocso case had been filed by the girl’s mother to avoid repaying money her late husband owed him.While Raj Kumar, in his statement, had claimed he spent a lot of money on the girl’s family, police officials could not find any evidence to prove the claims.While granting Raj Kumar anticipatory bail on June 12, the Ranga Reddy district Pocso court stated, “Material part of the investigation is completed. Statement of the victim was recorded. When the petitioner was not taken into custody during the course of investigation and material witnesses are already examined, the petition can be allowed granting anticipatory bail.”Raj Kumar was also directed to cooperate with the investigation and not contact the girl or her mother.Police officials said they filed a petition before the court requesting permission to record the girl’s statement before the magistrate, but the victim was killed before the court could give a date.
