Karkala: An culprit in the sexual assault case of a 17 year old girl, his step-mother’s daughter, has been sent to judicial custody here on Tuesday.

Sudhir(27) from Pilar in Shirva  has been identified as the accused.

Toma has two wives, Baby and Meenakshi and Sudhir is from his first wife. Sudhir works in a boys hostel of a private organisation in Moodbidri. Sudhir’s step mother’s daughter, a 17 year old girl was working in a sweet factory in Belman. Eight months ago, while she was returning from work, he took her to a remote area and raped her. From then for several days she was sexually assaulted and he also threatened her to kill her if she told anyone about it.

The incident came to light after she was admitted to the Udupi district Government maternity hospital and revealed the story to the doctors attending on her. As the  culprit and victim’s house comes under Shirva station limits, doctors informed Shirva police about it. But the place where she was raped comes under Karkala rural police station and consequently the case has been registered by the Karkala police.

As per the directions given by Udupi SP Annamalai, Kapu police circle inspector Sunil Y Nayak investigated further and arrested Sudhir.

Shirva station officer Ashok Kumar, Karkaka rural station officer Mahadeva Shetty and team were involved in the operation.