Pollachi accused alleges police framed him, seeks independent probe
A man accused in an extortion and forced marriage case near Pollachi has alleged that police framed him and sought an independent investigation. AVR Arun Prasath submitted a petition to the Pollachi Sub Collector on Friday after securing bail, the incident came to l;ight on Sunday. He also sought protection of digital and official records linked to the case.
Police alleged that Prasath extorted Rs 2 lakh from a man aged 19 and forced him to marry a woman aged 18. The case was registered on the man's complaint and included abduction, extortion and criminal intimidation charges.
Police alleged that Prasath and another man abducted the complainant, confined him and conducted the marriage on August 31. The police arrested Prasath in Tiruppur district on September 2 and a court remanded him in judicial custody.
Prasath denied the accusations in his petition. He claimed that he had alerted police and intelligence officials about the couple and was later made an accused.
Prasath described himself as a social activist who had complained about sand smuggling, illegal drugs, liquor sales and land encroachments. He alleged that some officers targeted him over his earlier complaints.
The petition sought preservation of CCTV footage, station records, arrest and case documents, call records and WhatsApp chats, his petition also requested a departmental inquiry and an investigation by an officer from outside the district.
