SALEM: A Pocso court on Friday acquitted a 32-year man from Salem district, who spent nearly two years in jail on charges of raping and impregnating a minor, after a DNA test proved he was not guilty of the crime.S Karthi of M Kallipatty village, who was arrested in September 2024, refused to apply for bail as he was firm that he would leave prison only after he was declared innocent by a court.Karthi came out of Salem Central Jail on Friday night as the DNA test confirmed that he was not the father of the child thecomplainant gave birth to. The Mettur all-women police arrested Karthi under sections of the Pocso Act following a complaint by a 17year-old girl alleging that he was responsible for her pregnancy.Despite his repeated assertions that he was innocent, he was remanded in judicial custody.“Unlike most suspects, Karthi did not seek bail, vowing he would leave prison only after his innocence was proved in court,” said an officer at the Salem all-women police station. During the trial, the complainant gave birth to a child.
Can return to village with my head held high, says man who’s cleared in Pocso case
The court ordered a DNA test on the girl, the child and Karthi. “The results confirmed that he was not the father of the child, indicating that he was falsely accused in a bid to shield another person,” said the officer.Judge Meenakshi acquitted Karthi of all charges after reviewing the DNA report.After his release, Karthi said, “My conscience was clear as I had done nothing wrong. I wanted the law to prove my innocence, so I refused bail and stayed in prison for two years. Now, truth has won, and I can return to my village with my head held high.”
