A 68-year-old physiotherapist was arrested for raping a young woman in January 2023 in Coimbatore. The case also involves her lawyer Manoj Pandi, who is absconding after allegedly threatening her into sexual favors and tampering with her complaint.
Coimbatore: The West All-Woman Police on Monday arrested a 68-year-old physiotherapist, identified as N. Anandakrishnan of IOB Colony, for allegedly raping a 23-year-old woman at his residence near the foothills of Marudhamalai in January 2023.
According to police sources, Anandakrishnan developed a friendship with the woman, an architecture graduate residing in Ramanathapuram, during meetings at a coffee shop in the Race Course area in 2022. In January 2023, he invited her to visit his newly constructed house in IOB Colony while his wife was away, under the pretext of discussing a project.
During the visit, he allegedly offered her a cup of coffee laced with sedatives. While she was in a semi-conscious state, Anandakrishnan is accused of raping her. The woman lodged a complaint with the Vadavalli Police, but the investigation was reportedly not thorough, and she faced intimidation from officials. Unsatisfied with the response, she approached the State Commission for Women.
Meanwhile, Anandakrishnan attempted to settle the matter privately. The woman sought legal assistance from a lawyer named Manoj Pandian. Promising to prepare her complaint, Pandian accepted fees but delayed filing it with the police. She later discovered that he had allegedly accepted money from Anandakrishnan to hinder her case.
When confronted, Pandian allegedly demanded sexual favors in exchange for his legal support. He threatened to side with Anandakrishnan and ruin her life if she refused. Subsequently, based on a false complaint filed by Anandakrishnan, the Vadavalli Police arrested the woman in October 2022, and she was remanded to custody.
While in prison, Pandian reportedly sent another lawyer, Praveen Kumar, who falsely claimed to have been sent by her father. He attempted to coerce her into complying with their demands. After her release on bail, the woman filed complaints against both Pandian and Kumar at the Race Course Police Station, alleging harassment and professional misconduct.
The State Commission for Women directed the city police to take action against the former inspector of Vadavalli and the then Assistant Commissioner of Police for failing to register a First Information Report (FIR) in the rape case. City Police Commissioner V. Balakrishnan appointed Assistant Commissioner of Police Karikal Pari Shankar as the special investigation officer.
An analysis of phone records and location data confirmed that the woman had visited Anandakrishnan’s residence in January 2023. Upon learning he was under investigation, Anandakrishnan went into hiding. Police traced him to Kumily in Idukki district, Kerala.
On Sunday, the West All-Woman Police registered a case against Anandakrishnan under Sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 342 (wrongful confinement), 376(i) (rape), and 506(ii) (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code. He was summoned for questioning on Monday, during which he reportedly confessed. Anandakrishnan was subsequently arrested and is now in judicial custody at the Coimbatore Central Prison.
Investigations are also ongoing against lawyers Manoj Pandian and Praveen Kumar. A case has been registered against Pandian under three sections, and he is currently absconding. Police are actively searching for him to proceed with legal action.