Kovalam (Kerala): In the case involving the sexual assault of a 16-year-old girl from Andhra Pradesh at spas in Kovalam and Chowara Chappathu, the first accused, who was in judicial custody, was brought in for evidence collection. Nagalakshmi (31), the victim's maternal aunt and a native of Palasamudram in Andhra Pradesh, was taken to the crime scenes as part of the investigation.

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Detailed evidence collection was conducted by taking the accused to 'Ayur Kerala', a spa near Vaikolkulam in Kovalam owned by the third accused Sajith Kumar, and 'Dreams', a spa owned by the fourth accused Nishanth. Nagalakshmi and her accomplices had brought the girl to Sajith Kumar's Ayur Kerala under the pretext of offering her employment. Nagalakshmi told the investigating officer, Assistant Commissioner S Chandrakumar, that she was brought to the spas owned by him for cleaning duties and the child was brought for spa work.

The girl was sexually abused by multiple individuals after being brought to the spa. Investigators also found that Sajith had transferred around ₹1.5 lakh per month to the Google Pay account of Nagalakshmi's husband Jellagopi in connection with this. When questioned about the transactions, Nagalakshmi claimed that the money sent to her husband was the wages she and the child received for cleaning work at the spas.

The investigation team has also completed forensic examinations. Assistant Commissioner S Chandrakumar stated that the accused would be remanded back to judicial custody following the evidence collection at the spas. Sub-Inspector S Anilkumar, women police officers Tara and Kavya, and the Village Officer were among the officials who accompanied the accused during the procedure.

 

Child's Aadhaar forged to show age as 20

According to Nagalakshmi's statement, it was her husband Jellagopi, who altered the 16-year-old girl's Aadhaar card to change her age from 16 to 20. The forged Aadhaar card was created on Jellagopi's mobile phone. Police have registered a case against both Nagalakshmi and Jellagopi for forgery as well.

With the help of a middlewoman named Krishnaveni, they brought the girl from Bengaluru to Kovalam. Her Aadhaar card was altered to show her age as 20 in order to convince the spa owners. After employing her at the spa, the accused even celebrated the girl's 20th birthday at Nishanth's spa.

The girl has given a statement that she was also forced to consume alcohol and subjected to abuse at the spas. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has collected photographs and videos related to this. Jellagopi, who is currently in judicial custody, will be taken into police custody again as part of the ongoing investigation. The SIT informed that in addition to cases under the POCSO Act, charges including human trafficking have also been registered against the accused.