A 37-year-old man, Dharmamuneeswaran alias Maveeran, arrested in connection with the sexual assault and murder of a 17-year-old Plus-2 student near Vilathikulam, was remanded in judicial custody for 14 days by a POCSO court on Friday.
The victim, a resident of Vedanatham village, had gone out on the night of March 10 and did not return home. Her body was found the next day in a forest area with injuries, triggering shock and protests across the district.
Police formed 10 special teams to trace the accused. Investigation based on CCTV footage and a motorcycle found near the scene led to the identification of Dharmamuneeswaran from Sayalgudi in Ramanathapuram district.
Police said he had multiple criminal cases and was out on bail in a previous rape and murder case. He had been attending court proceedings regularly as per bail conditions.
He was arrested near Sayalgudi while returning after signing at a Thoothukudi court. During interrogation, he allegedly confessed to the crime.
After medical examination, he was produced before the Thoothukudi POCSO Court. Judge Preetha ordered 14 days of judicial custody, and he is to be produced again on April 2.
Further investigation is under way to ascertain if others were involved.
