The Crime Branch has been entrusted with the investigation into the case relating to the sexual molestation of a 10-year-old girl inside a cinema theatre by a businessman on April 18, the police said today.
A decision in this regard was taken on the basis of scrutiny of the case and report of the IGP, Thrissur range, they said.
As controversy erupted over the arrest of the theatre owner, Sateesh, for allegedly not informing police first about the incident and handing over CCTV visuals to Childline, an NGO, the Investigating officer Shaji Varghese, DySP of District Crime Record Bureau, Malappuram, was shifted today.
The official has been asked to report to the Police Headquarters here, a police release said.
The owner was called to the police station yesterday for recording his statement and later arrested.
He was later let off on bail.
It was only after TV channels aired CCTV visuals showing the prime accused, Moideenkuty (60), molesting the girl inside a theatre in Malappuram district, was he arrested.
The girl's mother, who was sitting beside him in the theatre, was also arrested for not informing police about the crimee.
The incident had triggered widespread outrage in the state.
A case under POCSO Act was registered against them.
A Sub-Inspector was suspended for the delay in registering an FIR in the case.
The issue had rocked the Kerala Assembly yesterday following which Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had said the government would examine the legality of the case against the theatre owner, who had exposed the crime.
The Director General of Prosecution (DGP) had been asked to examine and submit a report on whether the action of the investigating officer was "legally correct."
It was after the DGP report was submitted that the investigation officer was shifted and case handed over to Crime Branch.
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