Bengaluru, Mar 15: He was constantly looking for sex and targeted minor girls and women in shanties as they were vulnerable. The paedophile, who was on the run, was arrested by the Sanjaynagar police on Friday in Kalaburagi.
The arrested is Mallikarjun alias Manjunath, a native of Kalaburagi, who was working in a garment factory in Sunkadkatte. He had come to the city a few years ago in search of work. Mallikarjun had sexually assaulted two minor girls and cases were registered in Sanjaynagar and Rajarajeshwarinagar police stations.
On February 23, around 5 pm, Mallikarjun went to Geddalahalli on a bike and approached the parents of a 13-year-old girl saying a huge quantity of food was left over at a house warming ceremony on the next street. He asked them to accompany him with utensils.
The parents, who earn a living by pressing clothes, sent their daughter to get the food, said the police. “Mallikarjun took the girl on his bike to a eucalyptus grove in Rajanakunte where he raped her repeatedly. Later in the night, he dropped the girl near her house and fled.
The victim’s parents did not bother to ask her anything till she fell sick after a few days. She was taken to a nearby private hospital, where doctors confirmed sexual assault. They lodged a complaint at Sanjaynagar police station,” said a senior police officer.
“CCTV footage was collected. The victim also gave the description of the suspect and she had noticed a name board saying Rajanakunte. Based on the information, more footage was collected on the route from Geddalahalli to Rajanakunte and a similar bike was seen in most of the footage.
“The registration number of the bike was traced. It is learnt that the bike was stolen from Banashankari,” added the officer.
Based on credible information, Mallikarjun was found hiding in Kalaburagi, after he had learnt that the police were trailing him. A police team went to Kalaburagi and arrested him on Friday.
Another senior police officer, who was investigating the case, said: “Mallikarjun confessed to have raped the minor girl. Recently, another complaint was filed in Rajarajeshwarinagar police station saying he had raped a 10-year-old girl. He was also wanted in two bike theft cases in Banashankari and Chennamanakere Achchukattu police station limits.”
A few months ago, Mallikarjun had gone to Kannada actor Darshan’s house to click a selfie with the actor.
But when he was denied permission, Mallikarjun grew furious. He came back after a few hours and threw stones at two cars belonging to the actor and fled. He is being questioned to ascertain if he is involved in more cases, said the police.
He was married
Mallikarjun was living with his second wife in Sunkadkatte and she is six months pregnant.
His first wife deserted him, unable to bear his torture and is living in Maharashtra with their daughter.
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