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NT Bureau
Chennai, July 28:

        Lone and unsuspecting girls travelling in late hours were sitting ducks for a serial rapist who as driver of share auto evaded police net while mercilessly carrying on his evil designs on innocent victims.

        In the last one month, Rajesh, 18, the said driver, has confessed to raping 30 girls before relieving them of their jewels and other valuables.

        But as it happened, he landed in the police net through providence: A night patrol team led by Rajamangalam inspector Chandrahasan on Thursday found him sitting alone in the share auto near Kumaran Hospital on 200 Feet Road near Villivakkam. When queried, Rajesh gave unconvincing replies to the patrol team whose suspicion was aroused given his type of answers and the need for a share auto to wait in late hours before a hospital in a deserted locality.

        The driver along with the share auto was taken to Rajamangalam Police station where he was grilled thoroughly. Unable to bear the intense probe, Rajesh began to spill the beans, and the police were jolted by the confession he had to make. A resident of Puzhal Camp, he had rented the three-wheeler from Erratta Erri auto stand and used to target lone girls waiting for share autos to execute his grisly plan for satiating his sexual thirst — the girls were taken to dark areas of the suburbs and raped at knife point. They were let off after relieving their jewels and valuables.

        Further, Rajesh's revelation that 30 girls have fallen victim to his macabre design over the last month has shocked the police. He confessed that he had raped the innocent girls at Tambaram and its nearby areas including Selaiyur, Madhavaram, Red Hills and its adjoining localities.

        A police team has taken Rajesh to suburbs where he had claimed to have raped the girls over the last month. However, no incident has been reported in the jurisdiction of Rajamangalam Police station. There is a possibility that victims had not come forward to lodge complaints fearing dishonour and shame in the society, according to police.

        Efforts are on to confiscate the stolen jewels that were sold off by Rajesh at various shops. Also, police have begun to investigate the family background of the serial rapist and collect details from his fellow automen at the Erratta Erri auto stand. The owner of the share auto from whom Rajesh had rented the vehicle is being questioned by the police.

        Joint Commissioner Balasubramanian and Deputy Commissioner Jaya Gauri said the auto driver was being interrogated further and his confession was being verified by police teams.

        It may be recalled that a few years ago, the notorious Auto Shankar from Thiruvanmiyur and his confidants was arrested for multiple rape and murder of women. After a series of court hearings, he was given the death sentence. Now, detained under suspicious circumstances, auto driver Rajesh with his confessions of serial rape has given a rude shock to the police force.