Kochi: The police suspect that Dr. Johnson K. Varghese, accused in a sexual assault complaint filed by a 50-year-old woman from Thrippunithura, has fled abroad. Following the filing of the case by Infopark police on Friday, the investigation team concluded that the doctor has gone into hiding. Although a lookout notice has been issued to locate him, he has not yet been apprehended. The police are currently investigating to determine his present place of residence and to confirm if he has indeed left the country.
Dr. Johnson K. Varghese is the complainant in a blackmailing case in which actress Athulya Chandran and others were arrested. The sexual assault complaint emerged from incidents connected to this blackmailing case. Based on the sexual assault complaint lodged by the actress’s 50-year-old relative, the Infopark police registered a case against the doctor. Police are now investigating both the blackmailing and sexual assault allegations.
Meanwhile, actress Athulya Chandran (32), actor Bibin Perumbilli (42), and K.B. Vishnu (31), arrested in connection with the blackmailing case that involved threatening and attempting to extort money from the doctor, will be taken into custody by Kadavanthra police on Monday. The police have decided to question the accused in custody to collect more information about the incidents and to identify others involved in the conspiracy. The investigation team has indicated that five more suspects are yet to be apprehended and the search is ongoing.
According to the doctor’s complaint, after calling the relative under the pretext of requiring urgent medical treatment—due to the relative’s health conditions—the suspects allegedly assaulted and threatened him. The complaint further states that the group demanded Rs 3 crore to keep the alleged sexual assault of the relative from being disclosed.
On the basis of this complaint from the doctor, Kadavanthra police arrested Athulya Chandran and the other accused. Police are investigating allegations including threats and assault related to the extortion attempt. Suspicion that more individuals are involved has led to an expanded investigation.
The police have also intensified inquiries regarding a mobile phone considered key evidence in the case. They are mainly probing how the mobile phone, said to have been taken from the doctor, came into the possession of the actress’s 50-year-old relative. Detailed statements are being recorded to gather related information.
The 50-year-old woman lodged the sexual assault complaint with Infopark police along with the mobile phone allegedly belonging to the doctor. Hence, the investigation will focus on how the phone reached the complainant, whether it contains any evidence pertinent to the case, and any related circumstances. The complainant’s statement is being reexamined to clarify these details.
With the blackmailing allegations by the doctor and the counter sexual assault allegations against him both ongoing, the investigation team’s primary objective is to establish the true circumstances of both cases. Further action will be taken after careful scrutiny of the allegations, testimonies, and available evidence.
Efforts to locate the doctor accused in the sexual assault case continue alongside ongoing custodial questioning of those arrested in the blackmail case. The police hope to obtain additional information through this process. However, the suspicion that the doctor has left the country has not yet been confirmed. Locating him and resolving the ambiguities surrounding the mobile phone remain critical phases of the ongoing investigation.
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Original Malayalam report: Malayalam Daily News
