Palathayi POCSO case: BJP leader Padmarajan dismissed from job by Education department

THALASSERY: The Education Department dismissed BJP leader and teacher K Padmarajan from his job after he was convicted in the case of sexually assaulting a fourth-grade girl in Palathayi. The Education Department issued instructions to the school management in this regard. The Education Department's action comes after K Padmarajan was sentenced to life imprisonment until death by the court in the same case.

There was an allegation that the girl was sexually assaulted in the school toilet and in another house. The accused, who was the former president of the BJP Thrippangottur Panchayat Committee in Mundathode, Kadavathur, was also the district leader of the Sangh Parivar teachers' organisation NTU.

The case began with a complaint received by the Thalassery DySP on March 16, 2020. The Pannur police concluded in their initial investigation that the complaint was false. However, a case was registered under the POCSO Act after strong protests erupted against the lack of action against the accused. Padmarajan, who was hiding in a relative's house, was arrested on April 15. The case was handed over to the Crime Branch after the family of the victim turned against the investigation team.

The Crime Branch was criticised for being negligent in filing the chargesheet. The crime branch filed the chargesheet just hours before the 90 days were up. Even the POCSO section was not included in the chargesheet. Following this, the accused was granted bail by the High Court. The exclusion of the POCSO section from the interim chargesheet was a big controversy. The trial of the case began on February 23, 2024. The court recorded the statement of the child who was the victim of the abuse. The prosecution examined 40 witnesses, including the child's friend, a student, and four teachers.

The court was presented with crucial evidence, including the child's private parts being injured and the subsequent treatment she sought. Despite the shortcomings in the investigation, the court found the accused guilty.