A special court in Kerala’s Kannur district found former BJP leader K. Padmarajan guilty of sexually assaulting a minor student.
केरल: भाजपा नेता और शिक्षक पद्मराजन को चौथी कक्षा की छात्रा से बलात्कार केस में मौत तक आजीवन कारावास की सजा सुनाई गई
K. Padmarajan, a teacher and former BJP leader, convicted of molesting and sexually assaulting a fourth-grade student, has been sentenced to life imprisonment until his death. The fast-track court in Thalassery, Kannur district, delivered the verdict. The accused was charged under Section 376AB (rape) and various sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The sentence was handed down by the judge of the Thalassery POCSO Special Court.
The accused’s name is K. Padmarajan, a BJP member and former Panchayat President.
The case involves the sexual assault of the student three times in the school’s comfort room between January and February 2020. The trial began on February 23, 2024, before POCSO Court Judge T.T. George. Twelve witnesses, including the student, were examined. After Judge T.T. George’s transfer, the trial continued before Judge B. Sreeja. The prosecution examined 40 witnesses, including four teachers. The defense cross-examined three witnesses.
After the arguments were completed, the verdict was reserved, but the judge was transferred again. The case then went to Judge Jalarani, who found the accused guilty.
The case was registered on March 17, 2020.
According to officials, the abuse incident was first reported to Childline. Based on a complaint from the girl’s mother, the local police registered a case on March 17, 2020. The accused was arrested on April 15. Upon the victim’s mother’s appeal, the state DGP handed over the investigation to the Crime Branch on April 24, 2020. On July 14, 2020, the Crime Branch filed an interim charge sheet under sections 75 and 82 of the Juvenile Justice Act. The accused was granted bail three months later.
Following a dispute over a phone conversation with the Crime Branch Inspector General regarding the investigation, the then-public prosecutor filed a petition in court seeking the inclusion of a female IPS officer in the investigation team. ASP Reshma Ramesh was included in the investigation team. Subsequently, a special police team led by Hostel ADGP E.K. Jayarajan and DSP Ratnakumar conducted the investigation. A charge sheet was filed in May 2021 under sections of the POCSO Act.
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