The Thirumangalam Women Police on Sunday booked a television assistant director on charges of raping a 20-year-old woman after allegedly drugging her. A manhunt has been launched to nab him.
Police sources said the woman, who was pregnant, reportedly had a miscarriage after she was given a soft drink laced with abortion pills. She attempted suicide after the man refused to marry her.
Police said the woman befriended Selvabharathy (26), of Melmaruvathur, a year ago through a common friend. Selvabharathy, who was working as an assistant director in a serial that is telecast on a private television channel, was living in a rented house in Vadapalani. Police said the couple used to meet in the room where the man had offered her soft drinks that was later found to be spiked. Later, when the woman found that she was pregnant, she approached Selvabharathy to marry her. This time, he gave her a soft drink spiked with abortion pills, police added.
After realising that she had suffered a miscarriage, the woman reportedly approached Selvabharathy once again asked him to marry her. When she did not get a favourable reply, she attempted to end her life by consuming poison, police said.
The assistant director, who was shocked over her attempt to kill herself, rushed the woman to Kilpauk Medical College Hospital and then to a private hospital in Virugambakkam.
The woman approached the Thirumangalam All Women Police after she was referred to them by the Vadapalani police.
Police registered a case under IPC Sections 328 (causing hurt by means of poison), 376 (rape) and 313 (causing miscarriage without woman’s consent) and were on the lookout for Selvabharathy.