Synopsis
A Coimbatore pastor, John Jebaraj, accused of sexually assaulting two minors, was arrested and remanded to custody until April 25. He had been absconding but was located in Munnar, Kerala, leading to his capture by Tamil Nadu Police.Key Takeaways
- Pastor John Jebaraj arrested for sexual assault
- Victims aged 14 and 17
- Incident occurred during a function at his residence
- Apprehended in Munnar, Kerala
- Judicial custody until April 25
Chennai, April 13 (NationPress) A pastor from Coimbatore, who had been on the run after accusations of sexually assaulting two minor girls, was captured by a specialized team from the Tamil Nadu Police and is now in judicial custody until April 25.
The suspect, John Jebaraj (37), who leads the Kings Generation Church on Cross Cut Road in Coimbatore, was found in Munnar, Kerala, where he had sought refuge to avoid capture.
Responding to a tip-off, a team led by Inspector R. Arjun Kumar successfully located him and brought him back to Coimbatore on Sunday.
He faces charges filed by the All Women Police Station in Coimbatore Central under several sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, following allegations of sexual assault against two girls aged 17 and 14.
The alleged incidents occurred on May 21, 2024, during an event at Jebaraj's home in GN Mills.
One victim, who was adopted by the pastor’s father-in-law, disclosed her distress to a relative, which prompted the complaint.
The second victim, aged 14, is reported to be the pastor's neighbor.
Jebaraj, recognized for his Christian devotional concerts and substantial youth following on social media, had ties with Levi Ministries, a notable Christian organization.
After the case was registered and Jebaraj went missing, Coimbatore City Police Commissioner A. Saravana Sundar established three special teams under the leadership of Assistant Commissioner of Police T. H. Ganesh to locate him.
A lookout notice was issued to stop him from fleeing the country.
Upon his arrest, Jebaraj was taken to the Gandhipuram Central Women's Police Station for questioning. Subsequently, he was presented before a judicial magistrate and remanded in custody until April 25.
