Express News Service By

A youth was arrested on Friday for luring a 23-year-old Dalit girl into a physical relationship after promising marriage and later cheating her.

Ramya (name changed) of Kagithapattarai in Vellore, and J Selvaraj (27), a Vanniyar of Vadugansathu in Arni, fell in love when they were working at a textile showroom at Tollgate in Vellore in 2009. On learning about their relationship, the showroom owner sacked them. However, they continued their relationship, said the police quoting the girl’s complaint. Selvaraj had promised to marry Ramya and lured her into a physical relationship. But recently he stopped meeting and talking to her.

Ramya, who learnt that Selvaraj was going to get married to his relative’s daughter on Thursday, went to the marriage hall and demanded that he marry her. The bride’s parents called off the marriage after knowing about his relationship with Ramya. After Selvaraj refused to marry her, Ramya approached the All Women Police in Vellore and lodged a complaint. Police filed a case and forwarded it to the DSP of District Crime Record Bureau and in-charge of Vellore, V M Ganeshan, who inquired into the case and arrested Selvaraj.

“Selvaraj’s parents said they were not aware about his affair with the girl,” said the DSP. Police registered a case against Selvaraj under section 417 (punishment for cheating), 376 (rape) read with 3 (1) (XI) and (XII) of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989. He was remanded to the Vellore Central Prison for Men.