Former BJP Leader Sentenced to Life Imprisonment in Child Abuse Case
A former local BJP leader in Kerala has been sentenced to life imprisonment by a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act court in Kannur district for sexually abusing a class 4 student in 2020. The verdict came on Saturday after a lengthy legal battle that involved multiple investigation teams and several controversies.
Kuniyil Padmarajan, 49, who served as the BJP president of a local panchayat at the time of the incident, was found guilty of repeatedly sexually assaulting the minor girl at her school between January and February 2020.
Case Timeline and Investigation Controversies
The disturbing case came to light in March 2020 when the victim bravely reported the abuse to Kerala Childline. A formal police complaint was registered on March 18, leading to Padmarajan's arrest on April 15. The case immediately created political waves across the state, given the accused's political position.
However, the investigation took several controversial turns. When the Crime Branch initially submitted its chargesheet in July 2020, shockingly, all sexual abuse charges were dropped. Instead, the accused was charged only with causing voluntary hurt and subjecting a student to corporal punishment.
The prosecution team identified serious lapses in the police investigation and approached the Kerala High Court, which ordered a fresh probe by a new investigation team. This second probe team itself became embroiled in controversy when an audio clip surfaced featuring one of its senior officials allegedly claiming the accused was innocent.
Following this development, a third investigation team headed by an ADGP-rank officer was constituted to take over the case. Ten months after the alleged incidents occurred, police finally chargesheeted Padmarajan under the stringent POCSO Act.
Legal Proceedings and Defense Arguments
Throughout the trial, the prosecution maintained that Padmarajan had sexually abused the young girl on multiple occasions within the school premises. The defense counsel, Advocate P Padmarajan, who represented the accused, claimed that the crime scene had been altered to fabricate evidence against his client.
Following the life imprisonment verdict, the defense lawyer immediately announced plans to file an appeal against the POCSO court's decision. The legal battle is expected to continue in higher courts.
The case highlights the challenges in prosecuting sexual offenses against children, especially when the accused holds political influence. It also demonstrates the importance of persistent prosecution efforts and judicial oversight in ensuring justice for vulnerable victims.
The final verdict brings closure to a case that witnessed numerous twists and turns over more than five years, ultimately resulting in justice for the young survivor through the proper implementation of India's child protection laws.
