Ernakulam (Kerala): Martin Joseph, who has been on the run after allegedly having sexually and physically harassed a woman from Kannur by locking her up in a flat in Ernakulam, has been arrested. The accused, who was hiding in Ayyankunnu in the Mundur forest area bordering Peramangalam police station in Thrissur district, was arrested after an hour-long search. His anticipatory bail application will be heard by the high court today. He was nabbed following a joint search by a police team led by the Thrissur Medical College Police Inspector A Ananthalal, Ernakulam Central Police Inspector Nisar and about 300 locals. After preliminary questioning, the accused was taken to the Kochi Central Police Station last night.
Kochi flat rape case: Accused Martin Joseph arrested Read:Kerala man hides girlfriend in his house for 10 years
The accused Martin will be produced in court today morning. After being taken into police custody, he will be taken to the flat where the girl was allegedly harassed to collect the evidence. Delays in apprehending the accused had led to strong criticism of the police. Although the police had been searching for the accused for over a month, CCTV footage of the flat showed that the accused was residing in a flat in Kochi. Police were on high alert as the footage came out and the investigation was intensified.
A woman from Kannur had lodged a complaint against the accused, alleging that she was locked in a room for days and that she was sexually assaulted in a brutal manner and that her nude scenes were filmed. The issue came to light after the woman, who managed to escape from the accused, informed the matter in her house and lodged a complaint with the police. Three of Martin's friends were arrested following the investigation but the accused had gone into hiding. According to the police, the complainant and the accused Martin had been living together in Kochi for about a year and that the accused who was into marketing and the victim who used to do modelling were having disputes over a financial deal.
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