BJP leader K Padmarajan found guilty in Palathayi sexual abuse case, quantum of sentence tomorrow

KANNUR: The court has found BJP leader K Padmarajan of Kadavathur, guilty in the Palathayi sexual abuse case. The Thalassery Fast Track POCSO Court found him guilty in the case. BJP leader and teacher sexually abused a 10-year-old girl of Palathayi in Panoor. The quantum of sentence will be pronounced tomorrow.

The accused has been charged under Section 376 AB, rape and offences under the POCSO Act. These are charges that can carry life imprisonment and death penalty. The BJP alleged that the complaint was fake and that it was a conspiracy hatched by SDPI in the case that created a lot of political controversy. The state government was also on the defensive in the case where the investigation team was changed five times. The police had earlier filed a chargesheet against Padmarajan without the POCSO section despite having evidence including the child's statement and medical certificate.

The Muslim League and Congress had campaigned that the state government and the BJP were colluding to save the accused in the case. The case against Padmarajan is that he raped the girl in the school bathroom between January 15 and February 2 in 2020.