BJP leader sentenced to life till death in child sexual abuse case
A FAST-track POCSO court in Thalassery on Saturday sentenced BJP leader and school teacher K Padmarajan to life imprisonment till death for the sexual abuse of a 10-year-old student.
While the teacher's counsel cried foul, calling the case fabricated against Padmarajan, the prosecution claimed vindication and expressed satisfaction with the verdict.
The verdict comes in the high-profile Palathayi case, which has been closely followed by the public across the state.
The court found Padmarajan guilty of serious offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
The charges stemmed from an incident on March 17, 2020, when Padmarajan, then a teacher at Palathai School, was accused of assaulting a young girl in the school washroom.
The Panur police registered the case following a complaint filed by the victim's mother.
The police chargesheet stated that Padmarajan sexually assaulted the girl during school hours, leading to his arrest and subsequent trial in the fast-track court.
The court described Padmarajan's actions as "serious sexual assault committed by abusing the trust of the student."
Medical examination reports, the child's testimony, and corroborating witness statements were cited as crucial evidence leading to the conviction.
Public prosecutor K Ajith Kumar welcomed the verdict, stating, "Entire Kerala is watching this matter very closely. The court today has announced its verdict of life imprisonment for the accused. I am very happy as a prosecutor".
The prosecution argued that the outcome was a result of thorough investigation and reinforced the gravity of the crime.
Padmarajan's defence, led by Advocate P Premarajan, disputed the charges and questioned the legitimacy of the case.
In court, Defence counsel Premarajan stated, "This case was fabricated by the Islamic organisations. They fabricated evidence against the teacher, who was a BJP sympathiser and the Panchayat Committee President of the BJP at the time. The main reason was a Facebook post by him in support of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), and two months later, a false case was fabricated against him".
The CAA, which came into effect in December 2019, provided for granting citizenship to religiously persecuted minorities like the Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and others in India's neighbouring countries, including Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
The case has been marked by discussions concerning changes in investigating officers and public uncertainty over the seriousness of the inquiry.
Despite these challenges, the court found the evidence sufficient to convict Padmarajan under the POCSO Act.
As part of the sentencing, the court considered the possibility of a long prison term, fines, and compensation to the victim, reflecting the strict provisions outlined in the POCSO statute.
The outcome is regarded as significant in the ongoing effort to address child sexual abuse cases in Kerala.
