Kerala police, after delay of a week, has finally filed a case against the former Imam of Tholicode Jamath, Shafeeq Al Qasimi, on charges of sexually abusing a minor girl, reports Times of India.

According to the report, the police has registered the case under the relevant sections of the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Qasimi is accused of sexually assaulting a girl a week ago after picking her up from school and taking her to a deserted spot near the forest at Tholicode. He was then confronted by a group of women working under the Kudumbashree scheme. He reportedly claimed that the girl was his ‘wife’. However, the truth of the matter was later revealed.

A case could not be registered by the police at that time because the girl refused to give a statement against the Imam. Her family too took a stance supporting the Imam. Following this, the police sought help of the Child Welfare Committee, which held a hearing and ordered that the girl be shifted to a shelter home of the Social Justice Department.

Meanwhile, the police filed a case against the Imam based on a statement by the president of the Jamath committee, reported ANI.

The committee had conducted an inquiry and found merit in the allegations against the Imam. Following the inquiry, he was expelled from the Jamath. He was also suspended by the All India Imam’s Council.