Cleric held for sexually abusing Class 5 girl in Perungalathur

The accused, Ahmed Sultan (40), has been arrested under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, police said. 

The victim Jasmine (name changed), a Class 5 student of a private school in Tambaram and a resident of Gudumedu in Perungalathur, used to go to a mosque in their locality to learn Quran, but refused to do so for the past one week. When her parents enquired her, she reportedly told them regarding the behaviour of Ahmed Sultan inside the mosque. “He would ask all the students to leave but ask Jasmine to stay back. He physically abused her using the opportunity,” said police. 

Before approaching the police, the parents confronted the Imam, who was rude in his behaviour. Even after filing the complaint, Ahmed Sultan reportedly told police that it was their community matter and would be resolved among themselves. However, since the parents were insistent on filing a police complaint, a case was registered and Ahmed Sultan was remanded after the arrest.