48-year jail term for cricket coach in third abuse case; fourth verdict on 29th

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Special POCSO court has sentenced the 40-year-old cricket coach to 48 years of rigorous imprisonment for sexually exploiting a minor trainee. The convict, M. Manu, a resident of Vallakkadavu, Sreevaraham, was also slapped with a fine of ₹79,000 by Special Fast Track Court Judge Anju Meera Birla.

The ruling marks Manu’s conviction in the third of six similar abuse cases registered against him. The court clarified that his 48-year prison term will run consecutively, meaning it will only commence after he completes the sentences handed down in the first two cases. Furthermore, Manu has already been found guilty in a fourth case, with the sentencing scheduled for the 29th of this month.

The prosecution noted that the ordeal began in 2018 when the victim enrolled at a prominent cricket academy in the capital city. Manu routinely took the child to a gym and other isolated locations under the pretext of training, where he subjected her to sexual abuse. The convict filmed explicit photographs and videos of the minor. In a coercive tactic, Manu also threatened a survivor from a separate case to force her into recording additional nude footage of the victim. To ensure her silence, Manu weaponised the victim’s aspirations, threatening to destroy her future in cricket if she reported the matter.

Investigations revealed that Manu’s predatory behaviour extended to at least five other young trainees at the centre. The serial abuse finally came to light during a cricket tournament in 2024, when one of the abused children spotted Manu, panicked in fear, and raised a public alarm. Out of the six criminal cases filed against the coach, trials for four have now been concluded. Special Public Prosecutor R.S. Vijay Mohan represented the state during the trial.