Mangaluru Activist Aneesh Poojary Remanded Over Pregnant Minor's Suicide

A local court in Mangaluru on Thursday remanded right-wing activist Aneesh Poojary in judicial custody following his arrest for the rape and abetment of suicide of a pregnant 17-year-old girl. The victim passed away on Tuesday, after which the accused went missing before being apprehended by the Karnataka Police following an extensive search.

According to investigators, the minor girl left behind a death note that directly blamed Poojary for her actions. The victim's family has accused Poojary of sexually exploiting the teenager under the false promise of marriage. They stated that he subsequently distanced himself from her, which ultimately led the young girl to take the extreme step.

The Karnataka Police initially registered an Unnatural Death Report (UDR) when the incident was first reported. However, they converted this into a formal First Information Report (FIR) after the victim's family came forward to lodge an official complaint against the activist.

During the initial probe, police discovered that the 17-year-old girl had previously approached the right-wing organisation of which Poojary is a member to seek help regarding her situation. However, she reportedly received no support or assistance from the organisation.

Because the victim was a minor, the police have booked Poojary under the relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. In addition to the POCSO charges, he faces charges of rape and the abetment of suicide under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

A senior police officer confirmed that the post-mortem examination of the victim has been completed. Medical professionals have preserved fetal samples from the victim to undergo DNA profiling, which will serve as key forensic evidence in the case.

Poojary had been absconding immediately after the girl's death on Tuesday, but police caught him two days later on Thursday. Investigators are now examining the physical suicide note, digital evidence, and various witness statements as they continue their probe into the matter.