Kochi: A 24-year-old man from Odisha’s Rayagada district has been arrested in connection with a rape case registered in Ernakulam North police station, Kerala police said on Wednesday.
The accused, identified as Siddhab Gamidanga, native of a Maoist-influenced village, allegedly sexually assaulted the complainant at Kaloor and in some Ernakulam hotels after befriending her in 2024.
The woman claimed Gamidanga took her nude photographs and threatened to circulate those among his friends and on social media.
After coming to know that a case had been filed based on the woman’s complaint, the accused fled to Odisha where he married another woman, police said.
Gamidanga’s whereabouts were traced using mobile phone details. But when a team went to arrest him, the people of his village with Maoist influence surrounded the police team.
Cops managed to bring the situation under control, and the accused was produced before a court in Odisha. He was then taken to Kerala on a transit warrant, PTI reported.
Ernakulam North Sub-Inspector Manoj led the investigation under the supervision of Ernakulam Central ACP C B Tom, with Senior Civil Police Officers (SCPO) Sumesh and Pradeep and Civil Police Officer (CPO) Nisheed as members.
