Kochi: Cronin Alexander Baby, the estranged boyfriend of Chartered Accountancy student Mishel Shaji, who was found dead near Ernakulam wharf, has been booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. He was earlier charged with abatement of suicide.
Read: Mishel hinted at suicide when Cronin phoned her the day she went missing
It was only in January that Mishel turned 18. But Cronin himself had told the police that they were in a relationship for two years. The officers have found out that Cronin had harassed her even then. Friends of both Mishel and Cronin gave statements supporting these claims.
Read: Mishel death probe leads to Cronin's place in Chhattisgarh
The Crime Branch has filed a report regarding this to the court.
Cronin was taken into custody on the charge of abetting Mishel’s suicide. The girl went missing from her hostel in Kochi on March 5. She was found dead in the Kochi Lake the next day.
Read: Mishel's last walk from church to Goshree bridge in Kochi | Video
The local police initially said the girl had committed suicide, but the government handed over the probe to the Crime Branch after her family members said they were not convinced that it was a suicide.
However, sources said that the Crime Branch agree to the local police's conclusion.
